Food safety officials seize a tonne of artificially-ripened mangoes in Vellore

Vellore officials seize chemically ripened mangoes, warn traders against using harmful agents, and destroy confiscated stock.

The Food Safety Division and Health department officials of Vellore Corporation seized one tonne of mangoes that were artificially ripened with chemicals while conducting a surprise inspection at the shops and warehouses in Vellore fruit market on Thursday.

Officials of the Department of Food Safety said that more than 30 wholesale mango traders function from the British era wholesale fruit market within the Corporation limits. They buy mangoes from neighbouring farming villages in Ranipet, Tirupattur, Krishnagiri and Tiruvannamalai. “Traditionally, Vellore is the second biggest wholesale market for mangoes after Salem. Huge quantities of mangoes were traded during the season between April and July,” S. Rajesh, Food Safety Officer (Vellore), told The Hindu.

The raid, first in the season, was led by P.K. Kailesh, Designated Officer (DO) in-charge, Department of Food Safety (Vellore), following complaints from consumers that mangoes were being artificially ripened using chemical agents, such as carbide and ethylene.

As the ripening of mangoes using chemicals posed potential health risks, the department was prompted to ban their use. “Some vendors artificially ripen fruits, especially mangoes, as they can sell more stocks in a shorter period before the end of the season. Awareness is being created among wholesale and retail dealers against such methods of ripening of fruits,” said P. Gnanavel, president, Vellore All Traders Association. 

At present, on an average, Vellore town gets at least 1,000 tonnes of mangoes every day for wholesale and retail sale. After local consumption, most of the stocks get sold to fruit pulp factories in Krishnagiri and Chittoor (A.P.) for making packaged juices and other products.