`No pesticide tests on veggies coming into markets daily'

Chennai:

An average of 3,000 tonnes of vegetables and 1,800 tonnes of fruits arrive daily at the Koyambedu wholesale market from neighbouring districts and states like Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka but there are few checks to ensure these are safe for human consumption, warn experts.

As no government agency takes samples from the market to check the pesticide levels, customers could be exposed to high risks, they caution. The food safety department, so far, has done checks only on artificially ripened mangoes in the wholesale market. There are no checks even at the retail outlets where the vegetables end up.

Consumer activist T Sadagopan said there had been an increase in the use of pesticides in vegetables and fruits over the past few years and that government had failed to create awareness among farmers, traders and customers about their ill-effects.“Only regular inspections and testing samples can instill fear among traders,“ he said. There should be good coordination among agencies like food safety department, agriculture department, horticulture department and the city corporation to ensure that food consumed is safe, he said.

While cabbage, cauliflowers and tomato plants are sprayed with pesticide the most, mangoes are ripened using calcium carbide, water melons are injected with erythrosine and highly concentrated chemicals are used on grapes and bananas.

Many traders bristle at being accused of involvement in such unfair practices. Former Koyambedu market management committee member V R Soundararajan even alleges that there is a conspiracy against traders. “There seems to be a hidden agenda to reduce vegetable prices because of the huge demand in summer. Traders cannot do anything if a few farmers use harmful pesticides,“ he said.

There are few alternatives, many customers complain. “Organic vegetables and fruits are unaffordable to the common man. And, there is no assurance that these are actually organic. It's unfortunate that there are no proper ways to ensure our vegetables are safe for consumption,“ said K Malathy , a homemaker in T Nagar.

A food safety official admitted that they were unable to keep an eye on all vegeta bles and fruits coming to the city. “Some loads arrive in the wee hours. We can only collect random samples for testing.We have decided to intensify raids with the help of the agricultural department,“ he said. A senior corporation official said they would soon write to the food safety commission for more raids. “The food safety department alone cannot conduct regular raids because of staff shortage.“

Doctors say the prolonged consumption of vegetables sprayed with pesticides can weaken muscles, impact the digestive system and harm the nervous system as well.