Just before the Pongal festival, Food Safety officials seized about one tonne of adulterated jaggery in Vellore's wholesale market on Tuesday. The sudden check targeted shops and warehouses in narrow lanes known for jaggery sales during festivals. S. Rajesh, Food Safety Officer, said that over 1,000 tonnes of jaggery come from the Vellore region yearly, supplying Chennai, Tiruvallur, and Kancheepuram districts. Traders sometimes mix kesari synthetic powder and wheat flour to make jaggery look brighter and heavier. This kind of tampering can cause health problems. "Some traders adulterate jaggery as they can sell more stocks in a short time during festival season," said P. Gnanavel, President of the Vellore All Traders Association. Awareness campaigns against adulteration are underway. Officials warned that genuine jaggery has a reddish-brown color and weighs less, while fake jaggery appears brighter, often orange, and is bigger. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) rules prohibit selling jaggery mixed with sugar, kesari powder, or wheat flour. Samples of the seized jaggery were sent to the Food Analysis Laboratory in Chennai. Depending on the lab results, legal action will follow. Health risks from adulterated jaggery include stomach issues, breathing difficulties, and increased cancer risk. The department cautioned traders against using chemical agents for artificial ripening and promised strict enforcement ahead of festival season.