Officials of the Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administrative Department (TSFSDAD) on Thursday commenced inspections of cold storage facilities used by egg suppliers in Namakkal district. The move comes after the Tamil Nadu social welfare and women empowerment department swiftly responded to a Times of India report revealing that contractors supplying eggs for the Puratchi Thalaivar MG Ramachandran (PTMGR) Nutritious Meal Programme had stocked nearly 20 crore eggs in cold storages across the district.
Government Directives and Inspection Details
In a letter dated May 27, Secretary to the Government M Pallavi Baldev directed the health and family welfare department to initiate inspections through the commissionerate of food safety. Field officials have been instructed to verify storage premises alongside noon meal programme officers and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) project officers. A detailed report is to be submitted following the inspections.
Concerns Over Egg Quality and Pricing
The TOI report highlighted that eggs procured at a lower market rate of Rs 3.70 per piece in March were stored for months, while the government continues to pay Rs 5.63 per piece throughout the year. Activists and food safety experts have warned that prolonged refrigeration could compromise nutritional value and expose children to bacterial contamination, including E. coli, staphylococcus, and salmonella. Parents have expressed concern that the very purpose of the mid-day meal scheme—providing fresh, wholesome food—is being undermined.
Suppliers, however, defend the practice as an economic necessity, citing volatile market conditions and the need to maintain supply consistency.
Activist and Political Reactions
Advocate and activist Poomozhi, who first blew the whistle on the issue, cautioned that inspections alone will not suffice. “The officials concerned should inspect and monitor the eggs movement in the upcoming days. Following this news report, the suppliers may sell fresh eggs to cheat the officials. However, they may sell the cold stored eggs after the issues are sorted out,” he said. He urged authorities to keep a close watch on whether suppliers distribute genuinely fresh eggs or quietly push stored ones into the system once scrutiny subsides.
Former state president of BJP K Annamalai has urged officials to treat the issue with utmost seriousness, stressing that the health of students must be the primary concern. “This is not merely a procurement issue; it directly concerns the wellbeing of lakhs of schoolchildren,” he said, calling for transparent monitoring and strict enforcement of food safety standards.
Background and Author Information
V Senthil Kumaran, Special Correspondent for The Times of India covering Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, and Erode districts, reported on this issue. He holds an MBA in Human Resources, an M.Sc. in Psychotherapy, an LLB, and a BA in English Literature, and has exposed numerous scams and held government officials accountable.
