Expired food products seized from shops

TRICHY: In a raid, officials of food safety wing here found expired cool drinks from shops around Srirangam temple and Chatram bus stand. More than 150 bottles were seized during the two-day operation.

The officials covered areas around Srirangam temple on Monday and Chatram bus stand on Tuesday. Shopkeepers said most of the faulty cool drinks had been recently supplied to them by the dealers of the cool drink manufacturers. Almost all the shops were found to be selling such drinks, officials said, many of which were products of major brands. The authorities said there was an increase in the number of these products due to the vaikunta ekadasi festival. "Some of the soft drink dealers deliberately supplied expired drinks with the intention of selling them during the festive season. People should be more cautious about the date of packaging. Otherwise, it could lead to health consequences," Dr A Ramakrishnan, designated officer of food safety wing, Trichy. Vaikunta ekadasi commenced on Sunday.

The festival attracts a large number of devotees for 'pagal pathu' (the first ten days) and 'raa pathu' (the second ten days). The highlight of the festival, 'sorga vassal thirappu' (opening the heavenly gates) will be held in the early hours of January 1, 2015.

On Monday, 11 food safety officers (FSOs) of the food safety wing were assigned to conduct raids in shops situated in the outer street of Srirangam temple, in view of the celebrations at Sri Ranganathar temple. The officers found that shops had stocked biscuits and cool drinks past their expiry dates. Around 100 cool drink bottles were seized, besides around 50 unlabelled water bottles and packets. A small quantity of banned tobacco products was also confiscated.

Dr Ramakrishnan said that the team would be monitoring the shops in Srirangam during the vaikunta ekadasi season. "All the 16 FSOs will be deputed to inspect the shops to ensure that quality food products are sold. Action will be taken if the public complaints (about the quality of the products)," he said, adding that the inspection would continue till the end of the festival, and they had taken samples by way of surveillance so far. The officials would also take food samples from 'annadhanam' (food offering) by the devotees. Last year, 23 devotees registered with the food safety wing to make 'annadhanam' for the next five years.