After a test conducted by a state-run food safety lab on a bottle of rum purchased from a state run liquour shop in Chennai showed that the rum was of sub-standard quality, Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) has ordered for testing of alcoholic beverages from liquor outlets, reports ToI.
According to reports, a circular dated October 23, 217, details how the testing will be carried out. Officials have been asked to collect samples from liquor outlets which have a minimum of seven brands from various suppliers every month. The suppliers list must be covered within three months.
“If any discrepancies are reported in the lab report, the same should be forwarded to the corporate office immediately for necessary action,” the circular reportedly said.
The ball was set rolling when Vijay, a resident of Chennai, sent a bottle of Ancient Cask Premium XXX Rum from TASMAC in Koyambedu to food safety department for a test. The department sent the bottle to Thanjavur based Food Analysis Laboratory and the report showed sub-standard quality.
However, the food safety department closed the issue by stating that the Vadapalani shop was shut down due to the Supreme Court’s order in April to stop the sale of liquor on or within 500 metres of highways. No action was taken against Kanchipuram-based Elite Distilleries Private Limited, the manufacturer of the rum.
Responding to this incident, Tasmac managing director R Kirlosh Kumar told ToI that the particular batch of alcohol was not permitted for bottling and that the technical committee of the manufacturing unit took necessary corrective action in the matter.