Food safety officials conducted inspections across Thoothukudi district over the last four days and registered cases against those shops operating without license and using prohibited materials banned by the food safety department.
The food safety department said that the team had inspected 534 tea shops and eateries across the district in several places including Thoothukudi city, Pudukottai, Kayalpattinam, Tiruchendur, Sathankulam, Udangudi, Alwarthirunagari, Kayathar, Kazhugumalai and Eppodhumvendran.
During the search a total of 142 cases were registered against the shops under various violations. Cases were registered against 65 shops for using newspapers and printed papers for food packaging, while 16 shops were using banned plastic materials. Another five shops were found using both plastic and newspapers and 56 shops were operating without food safety license or registration certificates.
Since public notice had already been issued regarding the direction, 136 shops will face penalties through the district food safety department, while the cases against the remaining six shops will be forwarded to District Revenue Officer’s court for legal action.
Additionally the officials also seized banned tobacco and nicotine based products at the shops in Kayalpattinam, Alwarthirunagari, and Arumuganeri, leading to immediate closure of the shops. The shops can operate again only after a good conduct report and paying a penalty of ₹25,000 to the district food safety department.
S. Mariappan, Designated Food Safety Officer, said that most violations were found in rural areas, as urban areas are under regular surveillance and frequent inspections. He emphasised that similar frequent inspections will be extended to rural areas to prevent such violations in the future.
The consumers can report food safety violations by calling 9444042322 or registering a complaint on the website https://foodsafety.tn.gov.in
Published – January 31, 2025 07:27 pm IST