CHENNAI: A day after the State health officials pressed panic button about the presence of narco-chocolates, food inspectors attached to Department of Food safety here on Tuesday intensified their drive against retail and petty shops located close to school zones, in north Chennai. “Food inspectors seized tobacco products, chocolates with narco substances that are unsafe for children and the raids will continue in other pockets of Chennai," said food safety officer R. Kathiravan. "We have collected new samples of tobacco products and most of these items are new without any labels. About 197 kg have been collected and samples sent to lab for tests. Based on lab results, subsequent action will be taken against shop owners. Under the Food Safety Act, an offender can be fined and imprisoned for six months”, the officer said.
According to sources, packets of 'baang' (a derivative of cannabis) filled chocolates were seized from a shop at Perambur. Based on details provided by the arrested shopkeepers, shops at Sowcarpet, Washermenpet and Purasawalkam were also raided. Varieties of unlicensed tobacco products called as Remo, now popular among youngsters, were also seized. Enquiries are on how these products are brought in from other States. "So far there is no acute monitoring of tobacco products and now we have started collecting intelligence on tobacco products such as zarda, paan and chewable beetle mixed with banned substances”, a food inspector said.
“Several shops were raided in our area and the food inspectors took away all the cigarette packs, snacks and chocolate items that were found without manufacturing and expiry dates. They also asked for bills and labels for the products that are sold,” said Kasim Mohammad, a retailer at Perambur. “They advised not to sell cigarette in future as a corporation school was located close by and warned closure of shops if tobacco products were sold”, said another trader. “School zones should be identified and they should be free from shops selling liquor and tobacco", said C. L. Usha, a government school teacher.
‘Chocolate’ boy off ventilator: Bharath, the young boy who was admitted in the ICU ward of the Institute of Child Health and Children's Hospital, following the consumption of a spiked chocolate last week, has seen some improvement since Tuesday morning. “He was taken off the ventilator at 11 am, but still cannot consume any food. Milk is passed into his body through a tube in his nose,” said his aunt Dhanalakshmi.
“We are being very cautious since he was on ventilator. He is doing fine now,” hospital sources said. He is under constant monitoring of the doctors and only his aunt and grandmother are attending to him. Officials from CM J. Jayalalitha's office visited the family on Tuesday morning and assured them that Bharath would be better soon. “We are grateful for the encouragement,” added the aunt.
Health and Food Safety officials have launched a crackdown near schools and educational institutions and have seized 176 kg of various materials, including marijuana. A strict vigil has been undertaken.
