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VeggieWash’es out pesticides

Around 10 companies have bought the formulation and another 10 are in the queue

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Don’t worry if the fruits and vegetables you buy from the markets are contaminated with pesticides. Here is a solution Veggie Wash which will decontaminate them.

The product developed by the pesticide residue lab of Kerala Agriculture University will hit the market this month.

Around 10 companies have bought the formulation and another 10 are in the queue. Veggie Wash solution was standardised by M.Sc students under the guidance of lab head Dr. Thomas Biju Mathew and with the assistance of R & D under the ‘Safe to Eat’ scheme funded by the agriculture department.

It was in mid-November that KAU vice-chancellor Dr. P. Rajendran handed over the formula to the industry. Since then, 10 firms dealing with household and herbal products in Kerala have entered into an MoU with the KAU for three years on non-exclusive basis.

According to Dr. Thomas Biju Mathew, the solution made from natural/plant-based products based on cost-effective technology will soon become part of household goods.

“So far no national or international companies have approached us to get the formula. Currently, 20 companies have shown interest in Veggie Wash and half of them have been given the formula. We expect the product to hit the market this month,” Dr. Thomas Biju Mathew told DC.

The consumers have to dip fruits and vegetables in the Veggie Wash solution for 15 minutes followed by rigorous washing in water.

“Vegetables and fruits containing insecticide residues have to be soaked in the solution diluted at 10-20 ml/L. The processing resulted up to 80 percent removal of the pesticides,” added Dr. Thomas Biju Mathew.

The product is also intended for commercial-level use by vegetable traders and super/hyper markets. The safety of treated vegetables can be tested by sending random samples to the Pesticide Residue Analytical and Research Laboratory.

( Source : dc )
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