Team Herald
MAPUSA: A team of FDA officials raided the Mapusa sub-yard and seized around 800 kilograms of chemically ripened bananas worth Rs 65,000 from a wholesale vendor.
The FDA conducted a surveillance drive in order to check for artificial ripening of fruits which allegedly happens almost everyday and found about 800 kgs of chemically ripened bananas.
The chemical liquid ethylene which was used for ripening was seized from the shop and the banana stock sprayed with chemicals was destroyed with the help of the chief officer of Mapusa Municipal Council.
The team also collected fruits samples and sent to the food laboratory for testing
A team of officials headed by Richard Noronha along with FDA officer Rajaram Patil, Madhav Kavlekar, Pritam Param and Sonal Govekar were part of the raiding team.
The team also collected fruits samples and sent to the food laboratory for testing.
Our sources reveal that tonnes of bananas, papayas and other fruit is chemically ripened and sold here almost everyday.
