PANJIM: The Food and Drugs Administration has recently begun conducting raids in Siolim, Mapusa and Margao on Monday and Tuesday. Herald Media asked people, “Do you think that seasonal FDA checks for forced ripening of fruits is enough or should it do strict checking on a daily basis?”
The raids are a good thing which the Food and Drugs Administration has started and we welcome it. But the question is, these things which you are doing once in a year, does it have any effect and impact on the vendors and restaurant owners, to maintain good hygiene? Or is it just pulling wool over the eyes? What is even more serious is the formalin issue. A laboratory was set up to check for formalin. But nothing was delivered. The government has made people accustomed to eating formalin laced fish. There is talk going on that this has started because the Section 17(2) of the TCP act dukan (shop) is closed. Is this another one opening up? People demand that the raids on forceful ripening and cleanliness in restaurants should be brought to such a point that no vendor can believe that he can ripen fruits forcefully and put the lives of people in danger.
Trajano D’Mello, Political Commentator
If we look around there are lot of cases where fruits and vegetables are injected for quick ripening. It is very harmful for children, senior citizens and adults who consume it. If regular checks are done, people who indulge in forceful ripening will be caught and they will avoid doing it. It will also protect the consumers and we will be assured that the fruits we are buying are safe and we are sure that these fruits will not have any cancerous effect on us, due to injections which are used. This is something that the FDA should look into and have regular checks done. These checks have to be conducted continuously.
Cecille Rodrigues, Political Activist
Conducting raids is a very good thing, since it is pertaining to edible stuff, people should not suffer. It’s good that they ensure that people don’t get any disease. But tell me one thing, why does the FDA wake up only when it is mango season? Throughout the year they are not seen. Vegetables are sprayed, bananas are dipped in chemicals, then there are pineapples and other fruit. They never come to check these fruits. There is formalin fish coming (into Goa), there too they are not seen. We feel that they are out to do ‘setting’. Why are they showing up only during mango season? Throughout the year are they sleeping? So people consume pesticide and chemical injected fruits throughout the year.
Tara Kerkar, Social Activist