Food Safety Officials Raid Mangoes Selling Shops to Check Carbide Ripening
The official advised consumers to examine the natural colour, aroma and quality of mangoes before purchase
NALGONDA: The food safety officials conducted a two-day special drive in Nalgonda city to check the artificial ripening of mangoes using calcium carbide.
Special inspections were carried out at fruit shops, mango storage units and roadside stalls in view of the summer mango season.
The district food safety officer, N. Shivashankar Reddy, said raids were conducted at New NGF Fruit Company, Madina Fruit Merchants, Ameer Fruits and Heera Fruits.
During inspections, the officials found traders using ethylene gas-releasing sachets for ripening mangoes in a controlled manner. Ethylene sachets were placed in plastic trays for every 10-kg batch of mangoes. The use of ethylene gas within permissible limits was found to be acceptable, he said.
Shivashankar Reddy said the use of calcium carbide, which is harmful to public health, was not detected at any of the inspected locations. Traders were advised against using carbide for artificial ripening as it could lead to health issues.
He said two mango samples from shops identified as suspicious were collected and sent to a laboratory for analysis.
The official advised consumers to examine the natural colour, aroma and quality of mangoes before purchase. Naturally ripened fruits have a distinct fragrance, he said, cautioning consumers against buying mangoes with unnaturally bright colour.
