Report

Between January 1 and June 25, Food Safety Officers inspected 746 retail shops and wholesale fruit storage facilities across the Coimbatore district. They conducted these inspections during the peak mango season to check for violations of artificial ripening. Officials identified 26 traders who were using ethylene sachets to ripen mangoes in an unapproved manner. Instead of using controlled ripening chambers, these traders placed the sachets directly inside mango trays—an unsafe and unauthorised practice under food safety norms.

FSSAI Seizes and Destroys Over 150 kg of Mangoes

The FSSAI seized 152.25 kg of artificially ripened mangoes, valued at ₹9,880, from the violating vendors. Officials immediately destroyed the mangoes to prevent them from reaching consumers. They also imposed a total fine of ₹52,000 on the offenders.

Officials Clarify Rules for Ripening Agents

Dr. T. Anuradha, Designated Officer for FSSAI in Coimbatore, explained that while ethylene is a permitted ripening agent, it should never come into direct contact with fruits. Traders must use ethylene gas only in ripening chambers. The direct placement of ethylene sachets in fruit trays violates food safety standards. She also confirmed that this year’s inspections did not detect the use of calcium carbide, a banned and highly toxic ripening chemical that was previously common in the fruit trade.

Source: The Hindu