Key Update

A joint team of officials raided three banana storage and trading facilities in Alevoor, Udupi, on Thursday after receiving reports of an illegal chemical-ripening operation. The team seized around 5,000 kg of raw bananas worth ₹4 lakh, along with chemicals, artificial colouring agents, ripening equipment and vehicles allegedly used in the operation. Police have registered a case.

Bananas Allegedly Ripened Using Chemicals

Officials acted on information that traders were supplying chemically treated bananas to shops, weekly markets and vendors across Udupi. The team raided warehouses in Kemthur and nearby Duggili, where traders allegedly used chemical solutions and artificial colouring agents to speed up ripening and improve the fruit’s appearance.

Officials found buckets reportedly used to dip banana bunches into chemical solutions. They also found evidence of chemicals being sprayed directly onto the fruit. According to officials, these methods could ripen bananas within one or two days.

Chemicals and Equipment Seized

Officials confiscated the chemicals and equipment allegedly used in the process. They said some of the chemicals cost between ₹2,000 and ₹4,000 per litre. One worker reportedly told officials that the operation had continued for around 20 years.

What Does FSSAI Allow?

FSSAI does not prohibit artificial fruit ripening. It permits ethylene gas for ripening under prescribed conditions. However, food-safety regulations prohibit the use of carbide or acetylene gas for artificial ripening because of potential health risks. The concern, therefore, lies not in artificial ripening itself but in using unauthorised substances or unsafe methods.

Health Concerns

Udupi food safety officer Vivek T warned against using unauthorised chemicals to accelerate ripening, saying such practices can pose health risks. Consumers cannot always identify unsafe ripening by simply looking at a fruit. Colour and appearance alone cannot reveal which substance traders used during ripening.

Udupi Has Seen Similar Cases

The district has faced similar concerns before. In 2016, a Udupi court reportedly issued an injunction against a banana storage facility near Rampura-Kemthur Road following allegations of calcium carbide use. The latest raid highlights the need for continued monitoring of artificial-ripening practices across the fruit supply chain.

What Consumers Can Do

Consumers should buy fruits from reputed sellers and trusted retailers whenever possible. While artificial ripening helps traders handle highly perishable fruits, businesses must use only permitted methods and approved substances.

Source: Deccan Chronicle