Crackdown begins on herbal water units

The Food Safety and Drug Administration Department on Saturday started closing down unlicensed units producing ‘flavoured’ or ‘herbal’ water.

Five units in Arumbakkam, three in Koyambedu, two in Kodungaiyur, one each in T.Nagar, Tondiarpet, Perambur and Kosapet were sealed on Saturday, said S. Lakshmi Narayanan, designated officer, Food Safety and Drug Administration, Chennai District.

Of the 1,000 units in the State that sell drinking water in the guise of ‘herbal’ or ‘flavoured’ water, about 150 units are in the metropolitan area.

These units do not have the required certification from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.

Random testing by a government institute showed that herbal water may contain higher-than-prescribed bacteria levels. “Many of the water in such units have over 150 colony forming units (CFU) per ml. The permissible limit is 20 CFU,” said a food analyst. The herbal water is typically sold in 20-litre bubble top cans resembling the ones sold by packaged drinking water units with BIS licence and also priced at around Rs.35-Rs.40.

The units were closed based on a directive of the National Green Tribunal and orders from the Commissioner of Food Safety and Drug Administration.

Units in Kancheepuram district will be closed next week.

“We issued notice to 36 units last week. The operators have to get a no-objection certificate or a product approval from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India within a week,” said an official.

“Red Hills, Madhavaram, Ambattur and Poonamallee have 52 units making herbal water. We will close unlicensed units on Wednesday,” said Senthil Murugan, Designated Officer of Tiruvallur district.

V. Murali, honorary president of Tamil Nadu Packaged Drinking Water Manufacturers’ Association, said that such units selling ‘herbal’ or ‘flavoured’ water function outside the licensing system and do not undergo rigorous water quality testing. There is not much awareness among residents about herbal water, he said. Members of the Tamil Nadu Packaged Drinking Water Manufacturers Association demanded the closure of unlicensed units selling ‘flavoured’ water’ a few months ago.

Random testing by a government institute showed that herbal water may contain higher-than-prescribed bacteria levels.