Despite ban, sale of veggies, fruits with stickers continues

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, December 26

Despite ban on the sale of fruits and vegetables with stickers, these are being sold without any check in the city. More than three weeks ago, the Food Safety Commissioner issued directives in this regard.

Unaware of the ban, vendors can be easily seen selling fruits and vegetables with stickers in markets and supermarkets. A random visit to a vegetable market revealed that neither sellers nor buyers were aware of the ban.

Sushila Devi, a buyer in the market, said, “We are not aware of any ban. We always think the fruits and vegetables with stickers are of a good quality. Moreover, these fruits and vegetables are sold at a higher rate and claimed to be imported ones.”

Through a letter to all food safety teams in Punjab, the Commissioner had directed them to spread awareness among the traders that fruits and vegetables with stickers pasted on them should not be sold in markets. However, no awareness drive has taken place till now.

The Commissioner in the letter had stated that a variety of adhesives were used on these stickers to paste them properly. Studies showed that substances like surfactants, which are used in adhesives, are toxic.

District Health Officer Krishan Singh said, “We have organised three camps of potential buyers in vegetable markets. They were asked not to buy fruits and vegetables with stickers. Till now, we couldn’t hold any meeting with traders as our staff are busy with the Jor Mela preparations in Fatehgarh Sahib.”