Sale of artificially ripened fruits goes unchecked

Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 3

There are no measures in place to check the sale of artificially ripened fruits in Jammu, even as 90 per cent fruits consumed by people here are imported from various parts of the country.

There is hardly any check on the thousands of cartons of fruits, particularly mangoes and bananas, which reach the market daily and consumed by people. Though the administration is aware of the use of artificial ripening agents, no strong measures have been taken to curb the practice.

Officials said artificial ripening agent calcium carbide, called ‘masala’ by local traders, was brought illegally in the state and sometimes the traders in ‘mandis’ outside J&K placed it with fruit cartons. A sachet is placed at every layer of mangoes placed in cartons to help it ripe, said an official.

Long term consumption of artificially ripened fruits has adverse effect on the health of people. “We have heard that some growers are injecting chemicals into vegetables and fruits to make the produce look fresh and green,” said Kishore Sharma, a Janipur resident.

When contacted, Deputy Controller, Drug and Food Control Organisation, Lotika Khajuria said: “So far the state is shielded from large scale chemical use, but there are apprehensions that some people from outside the state may be using the banned chemical.”

The Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011, prohibits sale of artificially ripened fruits.

“Most of the fruits take few days to reach Jammu. It becomes difficult to detect the traces (of the artificial ripening agents). As far as (their) use in vegetables is concerned, hundreds of vendors are selling farm produce to people…identification is a herculean task,” said a Municipal Health official.