A team of officials from the Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department (Food Safety wing) seized nearly 3.5 tonnes of artificially ripened fruits from the Koyambedu wholesale market on Thursday.
The team headed by R. Kathiravan conducted raids at nearly 70 shops in the market. Officials said that it was found that the merchants had used calcium carbide to artificially ripen mangoes, papayas and sapotas. Calcium carbide weighing nearly 75 kg was also seized.
The Koyambedu market has started receiving more truckloads of seasonal fruits such as mangoes and musk melons. On Thursday, nearly 100 tonnes of different varieties of mangoes were received and this may increase up to 300 tonnes next month.
Awareness programme
The seized fruits were dumped in the garbage transfer station in the market. Officials said they had earlier conducted an awareness programme on the health hazards of artificial ripening. The skin of such fruits would look ripe but the pulp would taste sour.
Action would be initiated against the traders and fines levied. Such raids would continue, an official said.
