Five tonnes of artificially ripened mangoes seized

O.L.S. Vijay (second left), designated officer of FSSAI in Coimbatore, during a raid in a fruit market in the city on Monday

They were ripened using calcium carbide and ethylene powder

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) officials, on Monday, seized five tonnes of artificially ripened mangoes and 500 kg of sapodilla (sapota) from wholesale and retail traders in the city.

The fruits were ripened using calcium carbide and ethylene powder. FSSAI designated officer O.L.S. Vijay led the raid.

FSSAI officials said that the artificially ripened mangoes and sapodilla were seized from 15 retailers and two wholesale dealers at Karuppa Gounder street and Ukkadam fruit market.

While three tonnes of mangoes were seized from two warehouses at Karuppa Gounder street, two tonnes were seized from fruit market in Ukkadam. The value of the seized fruits will come to the tune of Rs. 5 lakh. Officials also seized 10kg calcium carbide from one of the warehouses.

The seized mangoes were of most sought-after varieties like Alphonso, Malgova , and Banganappalli. They were being sold for prices between Rs. 100 and Rs. 150 per kg, said officials.

“Usually raids for artificially ripened mangoes are carried out in April and May. This year the raids were advanced following specific information,” said food safety officer K. Chandran.

The seized fruits were handed over to persons in charge at the biogas plant functioning inside Vellalore dumpyard.