10 tonnes of artificially ripened mangoes seized

Artificially ripened mangoes that were seized by Food Safety officials from a godown at Kuniamuthur in Coimbatore on Wednesday.

In a major haul, the Food Safety Officers have seized as much as ten tonnes of artificially ripened mangoes from a godown here on Wednesday. This is said to be the single largest seizure in a raid in Tamil Nadu. District Collector Archana Patnaik has lauded the efforts of the Food Safety Officers.

Apart from mangoes, 250 kilograms of calcium carbide, used to ripen the fruits, in powder form and 50 kilograms of calcium carbide stones were also seized, Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department (Food Safety Wing) Designated Officer R. Kathiravan told The Hindu .

Surveillance

Food Safety Officers had seized such mangoes from several shops in Coimbatore earlier this summer, when demand peaks exponentially. Based on the information gathered in these raids, a godown at Kuniamuthur was placed under surveillance.

The godown was found to belong to a major fruit dealer. Investigations revealed that he had supplied artificially ripened mangoes to several shops, from which the earlier seizures were made.

The raid was conducted during the early hours by a team lead by Dr. Kathiravan and comprising Food Safety Officers K. Sakthivel, V. Raveendran, S.R. Gerald, R. Rajendran, and V. Krishnan. A Sub-Inspector and several constables from the Kuniamuthur Police also accompanied them.

They found over 15 tonnes of imam pasand, Senthuram and Banganapalli mangoes, of which ten tonnes were being ripened using calcium carbide stones. The artificially ripened mangoes and the calcium carbide were destroyed at the Corporation Compost Yard at Vellalore later in the day.

Cheap cost

Calcium carbide is the most commonly used ingredient primarily due to its easy availability and cheap cost. It emits acetylene gas when mixed with water, he said.

Just one kilogram of this substance, brought for as little as Rs. 30, can ripen around 10 tonnes of fruits. For example, he says raw fruits of the much-sought after imam pasand mango can be procured for half its market price, ripened using a kilogram of carbide and sold for the market price, resulting in a 100 per cent profit.

He warned the fruit vendors of more such raids in the future. Any one having information on artificial ripening of fruits could mail the information to dofssacbe@gmail.com or contact them at the following telephone no: (0422) 222 0922.