Like tapioca farmers, sago manufac turers have also been facing a lot of problems. Their main issue is adul teration. While some of them produce pure sago, there's a group of manufacturers who adulterate their products. Manufacturers, in favour of producing pure sago, demand that the state government form a monitoring committee to prevent adulteration of tapioca starch and save the industry “Tapioca and starch manufacturing industry is worth over Rs800 crore in Salem and Namakkal districts. But due to adulteration of tapioca starch with maize starch, the entire industry is in trouble,“ said K Rajamanikam, a sago manufacturer in Salem district.
He said about 99% of traders pre ferred to sell adulterated sago and so didn't support the ones who produced unadulterated ones. Traders do not give higher prices for unadulterated ones, manufacturers said. As per the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011, use of chemicals for whitening is poi sonous and banned. But some manufacturers mix maize starch along with chemi cal substances with sago.
“We have issued warnings to many sago manufactur ers for manufacturing adul terated sago. Many such cases are pending with the district revenue officer (DRO) of the Salem district. Even after that many unit owners continue to manufacture adulterated products,“ said T Anuradha, district designated officer of Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administrative Department (TNFSDAD).
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