Public face health risk as vendors use ice made of poor quality water

Various dealers in Tondiarpet, Triplicane, Kasimedu, Koyambedu and Royapuram are selling industrial ice wrapped in soiled jute sacks in the localities after being brought from freezers. The blocks of industrial ice meant for storing fishes are being transported in autos and lorries to ice retailers and dealers at the marketplaces.

The industrial ice usually made with untreated non-potable water is at a high demand near beach areas as it is convenient for juice and small eatery owners. “We do not know if the people who buy the ice use it in juice shops or eateries. Most of our customers buy the industrial ice that we use for preserving fish and other sea food near the beach,” said Muthu, an ice dealer in Triplicane.

However, the fruit shop vendors and those selling ice-golas and flavoured drinks at the beach admitted that they buy the ice from the people in the fish market.

“We cannot go to the market every day and buy ice blocks. The nearby fish market is close to our location and we can get the required amount of ice from the fish market and store it for our use,” said Vannamathi, a fruit shop vendor near Marina Beach.

Vannamathi is not the only vendor who buys the ice from the dealers near fish markets. There are more than a hundred such vendors who buy the ice from industrial ice sellers in Marina and Elliots beaches and use it in juices and ice-golas.

When contacted, Food Safety Department Commissioner P Amudha said that inspections will be conducted wherever such practices are reported.

After conducting an inspection of packaged drinking water cans in the city, the department ensured a check on contaminated ice to prevent its usage in food stalls.