Salem: Food Safety Department officials have stepped up inspections of jaggery manufacturing units in Salem and Namakkal districts ahead of the Pongal festival, following reports of adulteration during increased seasonal production, reports The Hindu.
Sugarcane is grown extensively in parts of Salem and Namakkal, including Karuppur, Omalur, Deevattipatti, Veeraganoor, Thalaivasal and Sankari in Salem district. Many jaggery units operate in Karuppur, Deevattipatti and Omalur in Salem, and in Paramathi Velur, Jedarpalayam, Solasiramani and Pandamangalam in Namakkal district. Production at these units has risen over the past few weeks in anticipation of higher festival demand.
Officials said that normally only 100 to 120 kilograms of jaggery can be made from one metric tonne of sugarcane. However, to boost output and lower costs, some units allegedly mix white sugar with sugarcane juice. In addition, chemicals such as superphosphate, sodium bicarbonate, soda ash, sodium hydrosulphite, synthetic food colour and refined wheat flour are reportedly used during processing, posing serious health risks.
To curb such practices, Food Safety Department teams have been conducting raids, during which adulterated jaggery, white sugar and harmful substances have been seized.
Namakkal district designated officer J. Thanga Vignesh said officials confiscated 37,300 kg of white sugar and 45,510 kg of adulterated jaggery from various units in the district. He said around 85 samples were collected for laboratory testing, of which 13 were found unsafe for consumption. Notices were issued to 17 manufacturing units, seeking explanations.
In Salem district, designated officer M. Kavikumar said officials seized 3,450 kg of white sugar and issued notices to six jaggery units, asking them to clarify alleged violations.
Manufacturers in both districts said jaggery packed in 30-kg bags is supplied to local markets and transported to other States such as Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. They said a bag of jaggery is currently sold at prices ranging from ₹1,500 to ₹1,800 depending on quality, adding that increased production in recent weeks has led to a drop in prices.
