Plaint filed as Ferozepur gets chemical-treated mangoes

Our Correspondent

Ferozepur, June 8

The district administration here has unearthed the modus operandi of traders based in Warangal, Telangana, involved in artificial ripening of mangoes by using China-made harmful chemical substances.

According to information, the administration has been receiving complaints regarding this for the last two months following which Ramvir, Deputy Commissioner told ADC Dr Richa to probe the matter.

Dr Richa said she noticed some sachets (ethylene pouches) with ‘Made in China’ stamp that came with mango baskets being purchased by local vendors.

“I called fruit merchants and wholesalers to my office and realised that most of them were purchasing mangoes which came packed in wooden cartons from the southern side,” she said.

Some fruit traders confessed that the chemical was being used to ripen mangoes reaching the markets. “Due to increase in demand, suppliers adopt shortcut ways to ripen mangoes by using harmful chemicals, which have been banned under the Food and Safety Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulations, 2011,” she said.

Later, she contacted the Warangal administration and sent them the details. “The Health Department there raided suppliers in Luxmipuram market and traders were found hoodwinking the authorities and ripening mangoes artificially. The suppliers were imposed a penalty of Rs 20,000 each,” the ADC said, adding that a formal complaint was also being lodged.