Banned tobacco products seized

Officials conduct searches in bakeries and roadside shops

Food safety officials seized banned tobacco products during searches in shops at Ganapathy in the city, on Tuesday. Photo: M. Periasamy

Food Safety Officials conducted raids at bakeries and roadside shops across the district on Tuesday as part of a drive against adulterated tea powder and sale of banned tobacco products.

According to Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department (Food Safety Wing), R. Kathiravan, 183 kilograms of banned tobacco products, valued at Rs. 55,000, were seized from the roadside shops.

Compost yard

They would be destroyed at the Corporation Compost Yard at Vellalore.

Around 50 kilograms of adulterated tea powder were also seized from the bakeries.

These seized products were immediately destroyed with the help of local bodies.

A total of 150 shops were inspected by six teams each comprising four food safety officers.

Inspection

Of the shops inspected, as many as 55 were found to be selling banned tobacco products.

Shops at Ganapathy, Gandhipuram, Perur, Kinathukadavu, Mettupalayam and Pollachi were inspected.

Dr. Kathiravan said that such action would continue as part of the Government’s drive against unsafe food and sale of banned tobacco products.