CHENNAI: After failing in its attempts to stop traders from selling artificially ripened fruits despite repeated searches and seizures, the Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration (TNFDA) department has now decided to cancel licences of shops who are involved in this practice.
Speaking to Express after conducting raids on the Koyambedu wholesale market on Thursday, Dr R Kathiravan, designated officer of TNFDA, Chennai district, said the TNFDA would write to the Market Management Committee to cancel the licences of shops selling artificially ripened fruits.
In the raids by a 17-member team, the agency seized 3.7 tonnes of fruits — 2 tonnes of sapotta, 1.5 tonnes mangoes and 200 kg papaya — from 10 shops in the Koyambedu wholesale fruit market, which allegedly used calcium carbide stones to ripen fruits. During the search operation, 75 kg of carbide stones were recovered.
In India, use of calcium carbide is strictly banned as per PoFA (Prevention of Food Adultration) Act (Section 44AA). “However, since the mango season has yet to start, we also found two tonnes of sapotta ripened using the calcium carbide stones,” said Kathiravan.
Calcium carbide is an industrial grade chemical used for arch welding. It consists of heavy metals such as arsenic and lead.
People consuming fruits artificially ripened are prone to neurological disorders, gastritis and even cancer.
Kathiravan said the Food Safety Department had tried to spread awareness among traders about not selling artificially ripened fruits using calcium carbide stones. “But since they have not mended their ways, we have written to the MMC to cancel licences of all 10 shops.”
He also urged people to inform the department (044-23813095, email dofssache@gmail.com) on shops selling artificially ripened fruits.
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