Key Update

Food Safety Officers seized 13.5 tonnes of adulterated tea powder worth ₹21.60 lakh from a tea adulteration unit in Amathur village near Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu, on Saturday. The action followed a tip-off, prompting a surprise inspection by a team led by Designated Food Safety Officer S. Mariyappan. During the first check at a tea agent’s premises, officials confiscated 50 kg of adulterated tea powder. After questioning the workers, the team raided another building at Erichanatham–Pavali Road Junction.

Illegal Re-packing and Use of Artificial Colour

Officials found tea powder being re-packed without a Food Safety licence and mixed with tartrazine, an artificial colouring agent. Workers were using packaging labelled with a Coimbatore address to conceal the operation.

Empty Containers of Colourant Seized

Authorities also seized 160 empty containers of the artificial colouring agent used in the adulteration.

Source: The Hindu