Chandigarh: Keeping up the momentum of surprise checks, the Tandarust Punjab teams once again embarked on inspections of the fruit and vegetable markets of the State.
To much respite, “only one case of artificial ripening of fruits using Calcium Carbide was found out of the inspection of 70 main markets of the State ,” informed Mr. Kahan Singh Pannu, Director Tandarust Punjab Mission and added that the black sheep won’t be spared. The sample has been collected from the erring fruits merchant in Kharar and action would be taken under food safety law. 10 crates of unethically ripened mangoes of the said merchant have been seized. He said that 50 quintals of rotten fruits and vegetables, unfit for human consumption were destroyed on the spot, including 14.75 quintal mangoes, 3.45 quintal lemons, 5.45 quintal tomatoes from Samana Mandi and 1.80 quintal mangoes from Barnala fruit market. Rotten tomatoes and cauliflower from Garhshankar have also been destroyed.
He informed that the Tandarust Punjab teams have been conducting inspections since past two months and have also been imparting awareness on ethical ripening. As a result, deterrence in unethical ripening has been reported. “Awareness, inspection and ensuring compliance to food safety norms will go on unabated under Tandarust Punjab Mission,” said he.
