📰 Crackdown on Those Ripening Fruits with Carbide: Food Safety Department Intensifies Campaign; Ripening Chambers Inspected
📍 Lohardaga |
With the objective of providing safe and pure food items to the general public in the district, the Food Safety Department is conducting a comprehensive and intensive inspection and awareness campaign. Acting on departmental directives, a special drive has been launched under the leadership of Food Safety Officer Dr. Moin Akhtar to ensure that seasonal fruits remain carbide-free.
In this context, surprise inspections were conducted on Tuesday at ripening chambers located in Baksidipa and Badla. During the inspections, officials examined the chemicals being used to ripen bananas, fruit storage and handling practices, food licenses, and other essential documents. The inspection revealed the use of ethylene gas certified by the FSSAI.
The Food Safety Department issued strict instructions to fruit vendors at various intersections and market squares, warning them not to use hazardous chemicals—such as calcium carbide—to ripen fruits under any circumstances. The department emphasized that fruits ripened using carbide are extremely detrimental to human health. Their prolonged consumption can lead to severe adverse effects on the nervous system, in addition to kidney and liver-related ailments, and significantly increases the risk of fatal diseases such as cancer.
According to the department, fruits ripened with carbide tend to be unevenly ripened, possess an unnaturally bright yellow hue, and emit a pungent chemical odor. Such fruits are typically less sweet in taste and spoil rapidly.
The Food Safety Officer explained that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has authorized the use of ethylene gas for ripening fruits in a natural manner. This gas is naturally present in ripened fruits and poses no health risks.
He further stated that this campaign will continue unabated across the district, and strict action will be taken against those found violating the regulations. Rajneesh Kumar, an assistant staff member of the Food Safety Department, was also present during the inspection drive.
