MYSURU: Ahead of mango season, the district administration has set up a team of officials asking them to ensure that chemicals are not used to ripen the fruit.
This follows complaints from the public and elected representatives. DC C Shikha asked the horticulture officials to visit the market and collect the samples. She has asked them to book criminal cases in case chemicals are used to ripen the mangoes.
During a meeting of the officials from the food and civil supplies, horticulture and health departments, the DC expressed concern about food adulteration and set up the team. It is asked to deal with food adulteration, including use of chemicals by fruit merchants. Shikha asked the team to invoke provisions contained in Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and book criminal cases against adulterators.
The officials said they have collected samples of watermelon and tested it for chemical use. However, there are no such case, they said. Shikha didn't agree and pointed at large scale complaints and asked them to focus on mango season when use of chemicals to ripen the fruit early is rampant.
She asked the officials to crack down on food adulterators, both retailers and wholesalers and raid them. District health officer Dr H T Puttaswamy and deputy director of food and civil supplies Ka Rameshwarappa attended the meeting.
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