Erode: Food safety officials raided the jaggery shandy at Chithode here on Saturday and seized 4,500kg jaggery worth 1.5 lakh on suspicion that they might have been . The seized jaggery would be destroyed, if they were found to be adulterated.
A team led by T Kalaivani, designated food safety officer of Erode district, conducted the search based on a tip that manufacturers were mixing chemicals, including sodium hydrogen sulphate, lime (Calcium oxide), sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, superphosphate and alum, into jaggery.
“Sodium hydrogen sulphate, a bleaching agent in textile industry, is used to whiten jaggery. The chemical should not be used in jaggery manufacturing,” said Kalaivani, adding, “Sugar is mixed into jaggery to enrich sweetness. It is harmful to people, especially ones with diabetics.”
Officials have collected samples and sent them to a government lab. “Strict action will be initiated against manufacturers if samples were found to be adulterated,” she said.
Officials have also seized nattu sarkarai to check whether it was mixed with sugar.
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