Beware of buying imported fresh food in Chennai

A press report on Sunday Times of India states that the health in-charge who is supposed to check the imported food at the Chennai Port has been accepting a bribe of Rs. 6000/- per container and has given clean certificate for the food being imported. 

"The CFTRI test report takes a minimum of two weeks and holding the consignment for such a long period affects our business. We have to shell out a minimum of Rs 4,500 per day as holding charges in the port. So we prefer to pay up and get consignments released on the day of its arrival," a city-based importer told The Times of India. 

Babu, the port health officer, is supposed to collect samples from all imported food consignment and test them before giving clearance. While packaged food items can be checked at King's Institute, Guindy, fruits have to be sent to CFTRI, Mysore for tests including that of residual pesticides. 

Importers, to whom TOI spoke, said corrupt officials collect the samples, but don't sent them to CFTRI. The consignment is released the same day. Importers say this does not mean imported fruits are unsafe for consumption. "We are sure that the fruits are safe for consumption, as the country of export adheres to safety demands of the importing country," an importer said. 

CBI netted Babu following a complaint from an importer, N C Alexander, who has an office in Koyambedu market. The CBI team arrested Babu at the port while accepting Rs 6,000 from Alexander. He collected the amount through customs house agents V A Manisekaran and A C Bhoopathy. 

Subsequent search at his residence in Saligramam and bank lockers revealed cash and details of investments worth Rs 1.36 crore. CBI officials seized Rs 4.8 lakh in cash from his house, another Rs 28 lakh from a bank locker and Rs 8.5 lakh from another bank locker. "He also had Rs 38 lakh worth investment documents in two lockers and had Rs 80 lakh as fixed deposits. We also seized kisan vikas patras worth Rs 4 lakhs. We have learnt that he has property in Bangalore and a 20-acre property in Vijayawada. Our concern is that such corrupt official are putting public health at risk by not testing the samples," a CBI official said.  

source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chennai/CBI_arrests_port_health_officer_for_taking_bribe/articleshow/3867783.cms 

If the man has made all his money through bribes alone, about 2000 containers have passed by without them being checked for food safety. Thats a LOT of food being brought in unchecked. Looks like eating local food makes better sense.