Tea adulteration unit found near Virudhunagar

A tea adulteration unit was found at Amathur near here where Food Safety Officers seized 13.5 tonnes of adulterated tea powder worth ₹21.60 lakh on Saturday.

Acting on a specific information, a team of officials led by the Designated Food Safety Officer, S. Mariyappan, conducted a surprise check on the premises of a tea agent.

The officials found 50 kg of adulterated tea powder there.

After interrogation, the officials raided another building at Erichanatham–Pavali Road Junction.

The officials found that tea powder was being re-packed without Food Safety license and the tea powder was being mixed with tartrazine, an artificial colouring agent. The workers were illegally packing it using labels with an address in Coimbatore.

The officials also seized 160 empty containers of the artificial colouring agent.