Panaji, Jul 29: The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) on Saturday found presence of suspected calcium carbidepowder in the possession of a mango vendor at Canacona.
Canacona police said they received a call from a local after he saw a vendor from Karnatakaapplying the powder to artificially ripen the mangoes. Police immediately rushed to the spot, attached the substance and detained the vendor.
After police informed the FDA, a team rushed to the spot and confirmed the presence of calcium carbide in the possession of the vendor. Police said the vendor has been detained for selling artificially ripened totapuri mangoes using prohibited substance. The powder has been confiscated under panchanama and has been handed over to the FDA team. Four crates of mangoes in the vendor’s possession were destroyed after samples were taken from the stock.
The FDA team of senior food safety officer Abel Rodrigues, and officers, Flavia DSouza and Priya Dessai also inspected samples of mangoes from Chaudi market to check for any other cases of artificial ripening.
Health minister Vishwajit Rane said, “We will continue to take strict action against those who sell adulterated food items. FDA will continue doing its job without harassing people,” he said.
Rane said the FDA will work on concrete information and appealed to people to provide information if they find any (food) adulteration in their vicinity.
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