Food safety dept to watch poultry farms

Tirupur: Food safety and drug administration authorities have decided to monitor poultry farms after seizing 450kg dead chickens.

The authorities on October 27 seized dead chickens from K Inbavalli, 46, Vijay, 24, Gayathri, 30, Latha, 45, and Amutha, 36, at Kumarananthapuram and near the Tirupur fish market.

All of them were relatives, who had migrated from Ramanathapuram district. They were staying in Kumarananthapuram. “They used to buy dead chickens from poultry farms in Namakkal every day and transport them along with live chickens. They would clean them in an open place on Maruthachalam Nagar Road,” said FSDA designated officer B Vijaya Lalitha Ambikai. “They would clean them at night and supply them to hotels and meat stalls. The dead chickens were sold opposite to the fish market only on Sundays.”

“They have been doing the illegal business for the last eight years. When we were preparing chargesheet, two of the accused absconded. But we caught them and confirmed their identities,” said Ambikai. “In two days, the chargesheet will be filed before the district revenue officer. We have been planning to invoke apt sections against them, so that heavy fines can be imposed on them.”

“We have informed to Namakkal FSDA about the illegal supply of the dead chickens from poultry farms. Soon, a meeting with poultry farms will be held to create awareness about the issue,” the official added.