Fruit-ripening chemicals seized

Vijayawada: Vigilance and Enforcement Department and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) jointly conducted a raid following a tip-off at Kedareswarapet fruit market here on Friday.

Though there is a ban on using carbide for ripening of fruits, especially mangoes, the traders continued to use carbide and other imported chemicals for ripening.

Assistant food controller N Poornachandra Rao said that during the raid they found huge quantities of ethylene and ethiopian plant hormone solution sachets which were imported from other countries.

He said that the traders were reluctant to inform the source from whom the banned chemical was illegally imported. As many as 20 tonnes of artificially ripened fruits were destroyed, he said and added that chemicals used for ripening are very harmful for consumption which would affect heart and other body parts. He said that stern action will be taken against the traders, he added.