The Public Health Inspectors’ (PHI) Union of Sri Lanka  yesterday (18) requested the public to be cautious when purchasing chilli powder and sugar from unregistered markets and irregular salesmen.

The Union pointed out that this is because goods of inferior quality are being sold by vendors in order to make profits in the current economy.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (18), Treasurer of the Union W.D. Roshan Kumara, said that at present, there are multiple reports where wheat  flour, food colorings and certain other ingredients are added to chilli powder. In this regard, PHIs have filed several  cases against businessmen who are engaged in such activities, and the Court has already issued judgments making them guilty. 

Kumara revealed that some of these cases are being investigated, while about 30 cases have been filed against certain vendors. He further pointed out that there have been cases where food colorings were added to many types of tomato sauces. The unfortunate aspect of this situation, he added, was that there are claims that certain types of tomato sauces do not contain tomatoes at all. Therefore, Kumara requested the public to refrain from using brightly coloured and granular tomato sauces.

“We have identified that there are certain types of chilli powder, sugar, and tomato sauce of inferior quality in the market. Their colour and taste are different from registered, good-quality food items,” Kumara said, that at present, it is common to change the colour of white sugar using food colorings and sell it as red sugar to make high profits.