Jul 12, 2014

4.5 tonne of artificially ripened mangoes seized in Puducherry, Karaikal

PUDUCHERRY: Food safety officials seized 4.5 tonne of artificially ripened mangoes in the Union territory of Puducherry in May and June.
Food safety commissioner G Ragesh Chandra said te officials had raided mango godowns and wholesale dealers following widespread complaints that most of the mangoes sold in the market were artificially ripened.
They seized three tonne of artificially ripened mangoes in Puducherry and 1.5 tonne from Karaikal. However, no arrest had been made in this connection, they said.
Chandra said sale of carbide-ripened mangoes was prohibited according to the Food Safety Standards Regulations 2011. He warned that traders and food business operators selling carbide-ripened mangoes would attract an imprisonment of six months under Section 59 of the Food Safety Act 2005, besides a fine under Section 50 of the same act.
Consuming carbide-ripened mangoes will lead to stomach ache, vomiting, diarrhea, burning sensation of chest and abdomen, weakness and difficulty in swallowing, permanent eye damage, ulcers of the skin, sore throat, cough and shortness of breath.
Carbide-ripened mangoes were inferior in taste and flavor. The fruits have shorter shelf life. The fruits develop uniform attractive surface colour but the tissue inside would not be ripe or may remain green or raw.
The food safety officials have advised consumers to put mangoes in water for 30 minutes and wash them thoroughly. They also suggested to peel off the skin before consuming the fleshy portion of the fruits.
Consumers can visit www.fssai.gov.in to know more about the ill effects of the artificially ripened mangoes.

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