Raids expose violations in popular bakeries

J. Suguna, Designated Officer for Food Safety, inspecting cooking oil at a shop in A.Valayapatti near Tirumangalam on Friday.

A series of raids conducted by Food Safety officials in Madurai district in the last couple of days exposed serious violations in various bakeries in the city and in shops that sell cooking oil.

Doubts have been raised on the quality of bread being sold in a few bakeries, even at ones popular with the public. Food Safety Officers also conducted surprise checks at bakeries in Tirumangalam area and in a few shops against whom complaints were received that adulterated cooking oil was being sold.

J. Suguna, Designated Officer for Food Safety, Madurai district, told

The Hindu on Saturday that stern warning had been issued to bakeries to follow food safety norms, especially with regard to bread.

Raids were conducted in popular bakeries in Kalavasal, Periyar Bus Stand, and Kochadai among other places.

“There is something fishy about the labels, date of packing and expiry date. We are closely monitoring those bakeries and public too must be careful,” she said.

On Friday night, the team also busted adulterated cooking oil racket in urban and rural areas.

“The nexus between retail oil sellers and oil mills will be exposed. There are doubts that some sellers in Tirumangalam area are selling adulterated groundnut oil and palm oil,” Dr. Suguna said.