Vendors to face legal action

If found involved in manufacturing misbranded tea powder

Adulterated tea packets that were seized in Salem on Thursday.

Officials of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India will file a case in the court against those involved in manufacturing and distributing tea powder that is found to be misbranded and unsafe for human consumption.

During an inspection at a godown in Omalur six months ago, team led by T. Anuradha, District Designated Officer, Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department, found adulterated tea powder packets kept for distribution. Officials seized 250 kg of tea powder and notice was also issued to the vendor V. Selvam. The samples were sent to Food Analysis Laboratory in Guindy, Chennai that confirmed it as ‘unsafe’. But the vendor went on appeal and hence another sample was sent to referral laboratory in Kolkata which also confirmed it as unsafe. Hence, health officials sought permission from the Food Safety Commissioner for initiating legal action against the vendor, his wife S. Bagyalakshmi, who is the licence holder and the manufacturer V. Nibhana of Ayanavaram, Chennai.

Hence, health officials would be filing the case in the court in Omalur on Friday seeking action against the three under Section 52 (misbranding) and 59 (unsafe) of The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. If found guilty for misbranding, the accused may be liable to a penalty which may extend to Rs. 3 lakh and imprisonment for six months and fine up to Rs. 1 lakh for manufacturing or storing or distributing food items for human consumption which is unsafe. Ms. Anuradha told The Hindu that they raided Selvam’s house on Wednesday and found the unsafe tea powder packets with new brand name kept for distribution. “We have seized 107 kg of tea packets. This would be first time in the State that a case is to be registered under the act since implementation”, she added.