Adulterated tea seized

The Food Safety and Standards Authority officials have seized 1.5 tonne adulterated tea from a warehouse in Udayampalayam.

According to sources, a team led by Designated Officer, Food Safety, OLS Vijay, raided the warehouse. The tea was allegedly adulterated by Balan, who sold it to shops in rural areas. He had added colouring agents extracted from coal tar to give more colour to tea.

They said that the colour would give the impression it was strong tea. With a little powder, the tea shop owners would be able to sell more glasses of tea.

According to law, colouring agents should not be added to tea.

Action had been initiated under the Food Safety and Standards Act against Balan.

He was booked earlier in 2016 for a similar offence. He was let off after paying fine.

Now the officials would press for his imprisonment, the sources added.