the goan I network
PANAJI
During the early hours of Friday morning, food safety officers of the FDA conducted surprise inspection in Margao and found that around 1,500 kilograms of Alphonso mangoes were being artificially ripened.
Estimated to be worth Rs 32,000 in all, the officers found the mangoes were artificially ripened with Ethopon, a plant growth regulator. Spot tests were conducted by laboratory personnel that were also present at the site. It was confirmed that the chemical was in fact used to quicken the ripening process of the mangoes.
“Around 1.5 tons of artificially ripened Alphonso mangoes worth Rs 32,000 from go-down of one Habib Narangi, situated near fly over bridge in Margao were found. Same were found ripened artificially using Ethopon, a plant growth regulator,” said FDA director Salim Veljee.
The seized stocks were then destroyed at the Sonsodo garbage plant in Margao. Enforcement teams also conducted searches at various other fruit vendors selling mangoes, papaya and bananas in various parts of Margao including at the SGPDA market. “A total of about 35 premises of fruit vendors were searched. However, no other artificial ripening of fruits were detected at these places,” said Veljee.
Separately, enforcement teams also conducted raids on sale of gutka that is currently been banned in the State. The team confiscated gutka worth Rs 8,000 from gaddas selling pan supari also in Margao.
