Artificially-ripened fruits destroyed

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 22

A team of health officials conducted a surprise inspection at a fruit market to check artificial ripening of fruits using calcium carbide on Friday.

District Health Officer Dr Lakhbir Singh Baghowalia said 92 boxes of mangoes, which were ripened using calcium carbide, were destroyed. He said the department had, earlier, issued warning to fruit merchants to stop using such harmful chemicals and most of them had assured to comply. “We got to know that the information about the raid was somehow leaked and many trucks loaded with fruits were sent to other places by traders. A serious note of the lapse has been taken and it will be ensured that in future nothing like this happens,” said Baghowalia, adding that fruit merchants had been asked to set up ripening plants. He said eight such plants in private sector were already operational and traders can use their services.

The health officer said ‘food lab on wheels’, operating in the district since April 5, had also played a crucial role in creating awareness among consumers as they can easily check the quality of food items purchased by them.