Due to unsanitary storage conditions at a Tuticorin warehouse, food safety officials have seized 15,000 tonnes of corn owned by Reliance Industries.

The food grains were discovered to be pest-infested and to have been kept in unhygienic circumstances. (Standard Photograph). Henner Frankenfeld/Bloomberg News was the photographer.

Authorities in charge of food safety have seized over 15,000 tonnes of corn that belonged to Reliance Industries after learning that the shipment was kept in filthy conditions in a facility in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu.

Operators of food businesses are now in charge of the seized corn, and samples have been submitted for quality inspection. Officials estimate the worth of the food grain to be approximately 20 crores, despite the fact that the operators did not offer any purchase information.

The designated officer for food safety and drug administration, Dr. S. Mariappan, and the in-charge food safety officer of Ottapidaram union, Sivakumar, conducted an inspection at a warehouse owned by South India Corporation based on a tip-off. On the national highway between Tuticorin and Madurai, the warehouse is located.

The warehouse where the event took place is leased by Aspinwall and Company Limited, which is in possession of a legal licence for the storage of food grains. Reliance Industries was keeping the shipment destined for export in the warehouse.

Unfortunately, it was discovered that the food grains were pest-infested and stored in unhygienic circumstances.

The warehouse has been sealed, according to Dr. S Mariappan, the designated officer for food safety and drug administration, and the owner of the food company has had his temporary food safety licence withdrawn. The grain has been sampled for quality inspection.

The department will respond to the matter with the required legal measures based on the test findings.

Dr. S Mariappan warned business owners in the food industry that only acquiring a licence was insufficient and that they also needed to make sure that food items were stored in compliance with the hygienic guidelines established by the 2006 Food Safety and Standards Act. Operators would face severe legal repercussions if they didn’t adhere to these standards.

The food grains were found to be stored in unsanitary conditions and were infested with beetles and other insects.