Key Development

Ahead of the Pongal festival, officials from the Food Safety Division seized around one tonne of adulterated jaggery during a surprise inspection at shops and warehouses in the Vellore wholesale market on Tuesday.

The inspection targeted high-volume jaggery trading zones in British-era market lanes, where demand rises sharply during festivals such as Pongal and Deepavali. Streets including Mandi Street and Kallukadai (Arrack Shop) Street house nearly 50 jaggery godowns and were covered during the drive.

Consumer Complaints Prompt Enforcement Action

The inspection – the first of the season – followed consumer complaints alleging the sale of adulterated jaggery. V. Prabhakaran, Designated Officer (DO), Department of Food Safety, Vellore, led the enforcement action.

Officials detected jaggery adulterated with synthetic kesari powder and wheat flour (maida), substances added to enhance colour and increase weight. Food safety officials said such practices violate the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regulations and pose potential health risks.

Adulteration Linked to Festive Sales Pressure

Food safety officials said some traders adulterate jaggery to maximise sales during peak festive demand. To address this, the department has intensified inspections and initiated awareness programmes for wholesale and retail traders, according to P. Gnanavel, president of the Vellore All Traders Association.

Health Risks Associated With Adulterated Jaggery

Health officials warned that consuming adulterated jaggery may lead to stomach discomfort, respiratory issues, and long-term health risks, including an increased risk of cancer. They stressed that festive foods are often consumed by children and the elderly, making food safety enforcement critical during festival seasons.

Jaggery Production and Quality Variations

Officials said jaggery production in the region is concentrated along the Palar river belt, where sugarcane cultivation is widespread. However, food safety officials clarified that variations in size and weight of jaggery across regions are natural and should not be mistaken for quality indicators. Jaggery from Salem, Dharmapuri, and Vellore typically weighs between 250 and 500 grams, whereas producers from the Tirupattur–Krishnagiri belt, especially those in Uthangarai, make larger blocks weighing up to 1.5 kg.

FSSAI Norms and Consumer Awareness

As per FSSAI norms, traders are prohibited from selling jaggery adulterated with sugar, synthetic colouring agents such as kesari powder, or wheat flour. Officials advised consumers to remain alert while purchasing jaggery. Adulterated jaggery often appears unnaturally bright or orange and larger in size, while genuine jaggery has a natural reddish-brown colour and weighs less.

Samples Sent for Laboratory Testing

Food safety officials issued stern warnings to traders and said strict legal action would follow any violations. Samples of the seized jaggery have been sent to the Food Analysis Laboratory (FAL) under the Commissionerate of Food Safety in Guindy, Chennai. Authorities said further action will be taken based on the laboratory analysis report.

Source: The Hindu