Board alert over 'colour mixing' in tea

SNS, SILIGURI, 8 SEPTEMBER 2020: The Tea Board of India (TBI) has issued a notice, alerting tea producers, buyers and exporters about adulteration of tea by mixing colour.

TBI Secretary Dr Rishikesh Rai issued the notice on 3 September and has addressed it to the Tea Producers' Association (TPA),Tea Buyers' Association (TBA) and Tea Exporters'Association (TEA).

The Board has recently received complaints about instances of mixing of various artificial colour with tea, instant tea, and ice tea, the letter says.

"As per the FSSAI Regulations-2011, about tea, the product shall be free from extraneous matter, added colouring matter and harmful substances and as per Tea (Marketing) Control Order. 2003 (TACO, 2003), made tea shall conform to the specifications of tea as laid down under the FSSAI," Dr Rai says in the notice. On the other hand, the president of the Confederation of Indian Small Tea Growers Association (CISTA), Bijoy Copal Chakrahorty, has welcomed the steps of the Tea Board. 'Tea is a natural health drink where there is no scope of adding any chemical or compound in the processing system. Unscrupulous traders who are allegedly mixing colours with tea should be punished," he said.

"It is pertinent to mention that various Indian teas from different origins have their own distinct quality, aroma, briskness, which has created strong demand of Indian tea in the international market. However addition of colour in tea may affect such uniqueness of Indian tea and damage the brand image in the international market," Dr Rai says, adding, "Further, addition of any colour or extraneous matter to tea may also cause health hazards to the consumers."The TBI has mquested picketers, manufacturers, and other stakeholders who are directly or indirectly related with the tea business not to add any artificial/synthetic colour in tea, so as to protect the brand image of Indian tea in the international market and to keep the most popular beverage pure and free from harmful substances, sources said.

Action, induding suspension or cancellation of licenses, will be initiated by the Tea Board on charges of addition of colour in tea and violation of FSSAI Regulations and Tea (Marketing) Control Order, 2003, they said.