FDA seizes 109 dozen artificially ripened mangoes

Mumbai: Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has seized 109 dozen artificially-ripened mangoes from two mango sellers in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. The FDA officers stated that the mango sellers were allegedly using Ethrel — a chemical used to ripen the mangoes. Over the last seven years, the FDA has destroyed over one lakh kilogram of artificially-ripened fruits and vegetables.

The FDA carried raids on ripe and raw mango sellers in Vashi fruit market and fruit galli Chembur. The FDA officers had inspected the premises of 20 mango sellers. Out of which, they found two mango sellers using a chemical on raw mangoes.FDA Joint Commissioner (Food), Shailesh Adhav said, “The FDA officers started an inspection and this plan of action will be carried on for the next two months”

Suresh Deshmukh, FDA Food Joint Commissioner (Konkan region), said, “ If the level of chemicals tested is high, severe action will be taken against the fruit sellers. We suspecting the chemicals such as carbide chemical on any of the mangoes seized so far. Ethylene chemical up to 100 ppm and ethephon chemical up to 2 ppm can be used to ripen mangoes.”

Since 2011, The FDA has destroyed 12,873 kg of various fruits and vegetables.  Over 800 samples, other than mangoes, have been collected for testing, of which 161 were found unsafe for consumption.

Overall, fruits and vegetables worth Rs 45 lakh have been seized so far.