485kg artificially ripened mangoes seized

KOCHI: The shadow police on Saturday seized 485kg mangoes that were artificially ripened with calcium carbide at a godown 'PBA Sons Fruits' in Mattancherry. The police also seized 7.5kg of calcium carbide, 20kg of oranges and 21 gloves from the godown. The owner of the godown Shakeer (34) was taken into custody along with an employee named Rafeeq K H. The raid was conducted after the shadow wing received a tip.

"Consuming artificially-ripened fruits will cause gastrointestinal problems like diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal pain. People artificially ripen mangoes, lemons and oranges. One should wash the fruit, peel its skin and wash it again," said G Gopakumar, a research officer in the commissionerate of food safety.

SI A Ananthalal who led the raid said: "Godown owners are aware of the dangers when they use calcium carbide to ripen fruits. That is why they use gloves to ripen mangoes. Mangoes ripened at this godown are sold in small fruits shops and streets in Kochi. We have seized priyur, neelam, kilichundan and sindhooram varieties."

Shakeer and Rafeeq would be produced before the magistrate on Sunday. Last year, police had seized artificially ripened mangoes from Maradu market.

Ananthalal said as there was no restriction on the sales of calcium carbide, the chemical is easily available in the market. "One can buy it from hardware shops for Rs 75 per kg. Hundred gram of this chemical is enough to ripen 20kg mango in 24 hours, while it needs around three days to ripen naturally," said the officer.

The seized mangoes were handed over to food safety officials. The samples were sent for testing at regional analytical laboratory in Kakkanad. They will also register a case under Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. Food safety officials said this was the first case registered this year. Last year, one case was registered.

"Our members in the association do not artificially ripen fruits. We do not encourage it. Our family members also consume fruits," said Fruit merchants' association secretary K A Ashraf.

he Kochi shadow police on Saturday seized 485kg mangoes which were artificially ripened with calcium carbide at a godown 'PBA Sons Fruits' in Mattancherry.

The police also seized 7.5kg calcium carbide, 20kg orange, 21 hand gloves from the godown. Shakeer (34), owner of the godown, and Rafeeq, an employee, were taken into custody. The raid was based a tip-off.

"Consuming artificially ripened fruits will cause gastrointestinal problems like diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal pain. People artificially ripen mangoes, lemon and orange. If we buy fruits from market, one should wash the fruit before and after peeling off its skin," said G Gopakumar, research officer in commissionerate of food safety. A Ananthalal, shadow police sub-inspector who led the raid said, "Owners of the godown are aware of the danger hidden behind using calcium carbide to ripen fruits. That is why they use gloves to ripen mangoes. Mangoes ripened at this godown are sold in small fruits shops and streets in Kochi. We have seized three variety of mangoes, including priyur, neelam, kilichundan, sindhooram in the raid."

He said they have received information regarding many people artificially ripening mangoes using calcium carbide in the city and they are under the lens of police.

Shakeer and Rafeeq would be produced before the magistrate on Sunday. Last year, police had seized artificially ripened mangoes from Maradu market.

Ananthalal said as there was no restriction on the sales of calcium carbide, the chemical would be easily available in the market. "One can buy it from hardware shops, where it is used plenty for cutting iron rods, for Rs 75 per kg. Hundred gram of this chemical is enough to ripen 20kg mango in 12-24 hours, while it needs around three days to ripen naturally," said the officer.

The seized mangoes were handed over to food safety officials. The samples were sent for testing at regional analytical laboratory in Kakkanad. They will also register a case under Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. Food safety officials said this was the first case registered this year. Last year, one case was registered.

"Our members in the association do not involve in the artificially ripening of fruits. We are not encouraging it. Our family members also consume fruits," said Fruit merchants' association secretary K A Ashraf.