Expired Coconut Oil Found in Food Kits for Tribals
A fine of ₹7 lakh has been imposed on Star Foods, a private coconut oil company, for supplying low-quality coconut oil to tribal families in Idukki. The oil, branded as Kera Shathi, was included in food kits distributed by the Scheduled Tribes Development Department in June 2024. Shortly after the distribution, several cases of food poisoning were reported in the tribal settlements of Velliyamattom Panchayat near Thodupuzha, triggering an investigation by the Food Safety Department.
Investigation Findings
An inspection of the oil samples, collected by the food safety officers, revealed that Star Foods’ licence from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had expired on June 5, 2024. Additionally, the company’s licence only allowed them to sell fish and fish products, making their sale of coconut oil illegal.
Violations of Packaging Norms
Further investigation showed that the coconut oil was produced in Tamil Nadu and then repackaged for sale by Star Foods. However, the packaging failed to include a proper address, which is a violation of packaging norms. During the hearing, Shijas P.A., the owner of Star Foods, admitted to these infractions.
Public Health Risk and Legal Actions
The Idukki Subcollector’s order emphasized that selling coconut oil with an expired licence and incorrect labelling posed a serious risk to public health. The company has been given 15 days to pay the fine, failing which, the amount will be recovered through a revenue recovery process.
Source: Inputs from various media Sources
