Chemical-laced fruit destroyed, none punished

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, June 19

Even as officials of the Health Department have begun hectic drives to check food adulteration under the Tandarust Punjab Mission, they are facing hurdles in penalising wholesalers and vendors, who are using harmful chemicals to ripen fruit.

No action has been taken against any major wholesalers or trader and the drive is primarily targeted against vendors, a majority of whom do not have licences.

Even the vendors have not been penalised either for selling artificially ripened fruit or for operating without licences — even though it is a punishable offence. Reason: There is no concrete policy in this regard.

When questioned, the district health authorities said so far no report of large-scale illegal ripening had been received. They said calcium carbide was being used by traders in other states from where fruits were sourced.

The day two of the drive saw a full blown protest by vendors against the Health Department, following which the police had to intervene.

A majority of fruit and vegetables are laden with calcium carbide, a harmful chemical. The acetylene gas in calcium carbide evaporates when it comes in contact with moisture. Thus the samples often fail to show the presence of chemicals in fruit.

In Jalandhar, the department has so far taken 42 samples and destroyed 2 quintals of papaya and a truckload of mangoes, ever since the Tandarust Punjab Mission drive started on June 5. However, the department cannot penalise the vendors without getting the report of samples.

An official said: “Unless found in a large amount, calcium carbide is not visible in samples because it releases water and carbon dioxide after coming in contact with moisture. There is no provision of initiating action before getting test report. Due to the nature of the gas, the probability of penalisation in small samples is low.”

While there are 12 government-approved ripening chambers in the district where ripening takes place in three days and the output is low, vendors use calcium carbide to ripen fruits, which is cost-effective.

Dr Balwinder Singh, District Health Officer, said: “We are carrying regular drives and have destroyed a truckload of mangoes and two quintals of papaya. The vendors in mandi have assured us to opt for approved ripening method. We are carrying out hectic sampling and awareness drives to ensure that large-scale use of calcium carbide is stopped. As far as action is concerned, it can only be taken after we get sample reports, which will take three months.”

In Fazilka, the Health Department impounded a truck loaded with artificially ripened mangoes. Deputy Commissioner Isha Kalia said a team, led by District Health Officer (DHO) Dr Rajesh Khunger, stopped the truck for checking on the Ferozepur road.

On search, 267 boxes of mangoes ripened with calcium carbide were found. Khunger said the truck was coming from Haridwar and the mangoes were to be sold in Fazilka. He said the fruit had been destroyed on the Sania road. — OC