Food Safety Officials warn of more such raids
R. Kathiravan (right), Designated Officer of Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department (Food Safety Wing), inspects seized artificially-ripened mangoes at a fruit outlet on Avanashi Road in Coimbatore on Thursday.
Food Safety Officials on Thursday seized more than 1,500 kg of artificially ripened mangoes from a fruit outlet at SITRA near a private hospital on Avanashi Road. The mangoes were destroyed at the Corporation Compost Yard at Vellalore.
A team led by Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department (Food Safety Wing) Designated Officer R. Kathiravan and comprising Food Safety Officers A. Ramakrishnan, K. Shakthivel and S. Rajeshswaran raided the outlet. They found artificially-ripened mangoes of varieties such as Imam Pasand, centhuram and Bangamapalli.
The sale of mangoes shoots in the summer season. The demand during peak season is estimated to exceed 50 tonnes for every three days in the district.
This is far higher than what the market can supply. As a result, carcinogenic (cancer-causing) agents are being used to ripen the fruits quickly for higher volume of sales, said Dr. Kathiravan.
Artificially ripened mangoes can be spotted through a careful examination of the fruit. They will lack the aroma and will be less juicy compared to the naturally ripened ones.
He said that these mangoes were ripened using calcium carbide, an industrial grade product which contained arsenic and lead participles. These toxic impurities affect the neurological system and reduce the oxygen supply to the brain. Consuming artificially ripened mangoes could result in sleeping disorders and headaches, memory loss, seizures, mouth ulcers, skin rashes and renal problems besides cancer.
The Designated Officer warned that more such raids will continue in the future.
No comments:
Post a Comment