TN food safety officials seize 15,000 tonne of maize belonging to Reliance Industries

• 22 Jun, 2023
• India

MADURAI: Food safety officials have seized 15,000 tonne of maize belonging to Reliance Industries as the consignment was stocked in unhygienic conditions in a warehouse in Tuticorin city in Tamil Nadu.

The seized maize has been kept under the custody of food business operators while officials have sent the samples for food quality testing. Though the operators had not filed any purchase details, the worth of the food grain could be estimated at Rs 20 crore, said officials.

The department received a tip-off about the maize being stored in unhygienic conditions. Designated officer for food safety and drug administration Dr S Mariappan and Ottapidaram union food safety officer (incharge) Sivakumar and the team inspected a warehouse on the Tuticorin - Madurai National Highway belonging to South India Corporation.

The warehouse has been leased to Aspinwall and Company Limited which has taken due licence to stock the food grains. The consignment stored in the warehouse belonged to Reliance Industries which has stocked it for exporting purposes. However, the food grains were stored in unhygienic conditions and infested with beetles and other insects.

Designated officer for food safety and drug administration Dr S Mariappan said that they had sealed the warehouse and temporarily cancelled the food safety licence of the food business operator. The samples of the grain have been collected for the quality tests. Based on the results, the department would initiate further legal action, he said.

He warned food operators that it was not sufficient to get the licence but ensure that the food items were stored in hygienic conditions as per the norms of the Food Safety and Standard Act 2006 failing which they would have to face severe legal actions.

Source: Times of India