Firdous Hassan
Srinagar, July 25: Food Safety Department has damaged a large quantity of artificially-ripened fruits in the markets here, even as a ban has been imposed on sale of unhygienic ones.
A series of videos circulated on social media by netizens recently showed the presence of fiber-like substances and insects inside fruits such as mangoes and watermelons imported to the state.
Following the complaints, the Food Safety Department visited various markets in Srinagar and destroyed more than 20 quintal of unhealthy fruits in the last three days.
The action was taken at Parimpora Fruit Mandi, Hari Singh High Street, and Batamaloo here.
As per Assistant Food Commissioner Srinagar, Hilal Ahmad Mir, most of these non-seasonal fruits here turn stale during transportation or due to rise in temperatures.
“We don’t know when they have been packed and for how many days they have been stored here. So, we told the fruit dealers that every box shall have details about its packing, at least,” he said.
Mir said the dealers have been directed not to sell the non- seasonal fruits even in the packed form.
The department also imposed a ban on sale of unhygienic fruits.
In the advisory, the department has warned the sellers to avoid artificial ripening of fruits.
“The fruits shall be only ripened by virtue of scientific process in automatic chambers as is allowed under Food Safety and Standards Act and no wholesale dealer and fruit supplier shall ripen the fruit by harmful carcinogenic chemicals like calcium carbide and ethylene sachets,” it reads.
