Shops raided after concerns over toffees sold to children

Report sought from Food Safety Officer over the products

Concerns have been expressed by parents and officials over the sale of unbranded toffees to children in some shops in Thokkottu.

Health Department officials visited a private school near Thokkottu junction and found that sugar-coated toffees had been kept in small bottles for sale. Taluk Health Officer Navinchandra Kulal said these toffees were unbranded and did not have any details of the manufacturer.

Dr. Kulal said he consumed the toffees and did not find anything sedative or any other drugs mixed with these toffees. “But we do not want such unbranded items to be consumed by students. We have sought a report from Food Safety Officer,” he said.

The designated Food Safety Officer Praveen Kumar C.H. said the samples of the toffees provided by Taluk Health office have been sent for laboratory tests.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kumar and his team carried out raids in the shops in the vicinity and checked the items that are sold. He said that under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 shops selling food products should have obtained a licence from the designated authority. Shop owners will be booked for selling food articles that do not display the name of the manufacturer and the contents. The manufacturer of such products will also be booked, Mr. Kumar said.

Police Commissioner R. Hithendra has taken suo motu note of the reports expressing suspicion that toffees are laced with psychotropic drugs and asked for a report from the Ullal police.

The Kerala police have raided some shops in Kasaragod and had recovered such toffees said to be mixed with drugs in the past. Mr. Hithendra said there has not been any instance of sale of such toffees in the city. “But in light of the apprehensions expressed, I have sought report from Ullal police,” he said.

Assistant Drug Controller K.V. Nagaraj said there was a strict vigil by the department to prevent the sale of the psychotropic drugs without prescription.

He said licences of medical shops violating the rule have been kept under suspension. Apart from checks at regular intervals, the stocks of wholesale drug dealers are closely monitored, he said.