Tandarust Punjab teams today
inspected 70 fruit and vegetable markets across the state and destroyed about 50 quintals of "rotten produce, unfit for human consumption."
"One case of artificial ripening of fruits, using calcium carbide, was found. Ten crates of unethically ripened mangoes from Kharar have been seized," said Kahan Singh Pannu, director of Tandarust Punjab Mission.
Samples of the artificially ripened fruits have been collected and action will be taken against erring merchants under food safety law, he said.
As much as 50 quintals of rotten fruits and vegetables were destroyed, including 14.75 quintals of mangoes, 3.45 quintals of lemons, 5.45 quintals of tomatoes from Samana Mandi and 1.80 quintals of mangoes from Barnala fruit market, said Kahan Singh.
Rotten tomatoes and cauliflower from Garhshankar market
were also destroyed, he said.
Tandarust Punjab teams have been conducting frequent food inspections in the last two months. They have also been taking up awareness drives on the ills of unethical ripening.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)