The West Zone Task Force of the Hyderabad police conducted operations in Borabanda, resulting in the seizure of approximately 4,800 kg of mangoes artificially ripened with ethylene from two fruit warehouses. In the first case, Mohd. Moiz, a manager of a fruit warehouse in HF Nagar, Borabanda, was arrested. The police confiscated 160 trays of artificially ripened mangoes, with each tray weighing 20 kg, along with several packets of ethylene. In a subsequent operation, Mohd. Sadiq, a fruit businessman from Sanjay Nagar in Borabanda, Hyderabad, faced arrest, and the police seized 80 trays of mangoes and sachets of the ripening agent.
Officials indicated that a network of fruit suppliers in Hyderabad has been engaging in the use of ethylene for ripening mangoes to meet the high demand. This practice contravenes the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) guidelines, which prohibit the direct application of ripening agents on fruits. The excessive use of such chemicals poses health risks, including skin and lung irritation, and prolonged exposure can lead to heavy metal poisoning and neurological issues, as per the statement from Hyderabad officials.
Source: siasat.com