Team Herald
PANJIM: The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) conducted a surprise inspection at the sub yard market in Mapusa and seized 180 kg of mangoes that were found to contain sachets of ethylene ripener inside the boxes.
Officials stated that the mangoes have been sent to a laboratory to determine whether they were being artificially ripened using non-approved methods. The test results are expected within seven days and will be made public, they added.
Food and Drug Administration officials inspected seven units at Siolim engaged in selling local varieties and eight at the Mapusa Sub Yard dealing in mango varieties from other states. A total of 24 samples of various mango varieties and four samples of other fruits were collected.
During the inspection, two units at the Mapusa yard were found with suspicious material, leading to the seizure of their stock. The samples have been sent to the laboratory for chemical residue analysis.