Take steps to prevent using chemicals in jaggery: Sumalatha

Mandya MP Sumalatha on Friday urged the government to take steps to prevent adulteration of jaggery using chemical agents and bleaching compounds to make it look whiter.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour in Lok Sabha, she said consumers are fonder of white jaggery than organic jaggery, which is dark brown in colour. A large number of illegal units have come up that adulterate jaggery and make it look white by using chemical agents and bleaching compounds.

The government must take serious action against the unhealthy and dangerous practice of jaggery adulteration and create awareness among the public about the danger of consuming white jaggery.

The popular organic jaggery industry in Mandya is now shrinking due to a lack of financial support. Earlier there were 6,000 jaggery making units in the district which has now come down to 600.

Since jaggery from Mandya district is being used to promote the 'one district, one product' idea under the Atmanirbhar Bharat scheme, the government should focus on giving financial, business and technical support to this industry in the district, she said.