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FSOs in Coimbatore seize nearly 3.2 tonnes of sapotas ripened artificially
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Wednesday, 22 February, 2012, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Archana Aroor, Mumbai
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As part of a drive to ensure compliance with the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006, a team of about 20 food safety officers (FSOs) seized nearly 3.2 tonnes of artificially ripened sapotas (chickoos) from two shops, at Ukkadam, Coimbatore, in Tamil Nadu, recently.
“We led the investigation based on the instructions from the collector here whereby about two tonnes of chickoos were seized from the first shop and one-and-a-half tonnes from the second shop,” Dr R Kathiravan, designated officer, Coimbatore, informed FnB News in a chat over telephone.
Kathiravan said that his team found these fruit vendors using calcium carbide stones for ripening by keeping them under plastic trays. He added that fruits ripened with the help of these calcium carbide stones were harmful for consumption as they could lead to gastritis, diarrhoea, food poisoning and ulcers.
Further he informed that using calcium carbide chemical for artificial ripening was not permitted under the new law. The officials then dumped these fruits in the corporation's dumpyard, located in Vellalore where they were crushed and buried.
“The officials have warned fruit vendors of legal action if it is repeated,” said Kathiravan, adding that the officials were also keeping track of mangoes as the season was round the corner.
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