Health officials inspect ice manufacturing units

Consuming sugarcane juice and fruit juice from roadside vendors may be dangerous as the industrial ice cubes mixed with these juices are said to be prepared in an unhygienic way.

This may cause diarrhea and other water-borne diseases.

Led by T. Anuradha, District Designated Officer, Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department, Salem, the health team inspected six ice manufacturing units in the district on Friday and found contaminated water, unhygienic ice slabs and ammonium gas being used to prepare the bars.

The bars are broken and used for mixing with fruit juices, sugarcane and lassi that may cause viral fever and gastro-intestinal diseases.

Though the manufacturer said that the ice bars were used for refrigerating fish and other products, health officials found road side vendors buying in large numbers to mix with juices.

As mercury hovers around 40 degree Celsius in the district, consumers prefer to add more ice cubes to the juices for a chill.

But roadside shops and shops functioning without valid license use these ice cubs, said the health official. These cubes are the source of danger, the official said.

Ms. Anuradha told The Hindu that the manufacturers were warned against the use of such ice.

Samples have been taken to be sent to laboratory in Chennai.

After obtaining the results, notices would be served on such ice manufacturers under The Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011, she said.