3,520 kg carbide-ripened mangoes destroyed

After carrying out several health raids this week, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) conducted a major one on Thursday to target carbide-ripened mangoes. In all, AMC destroyed 3,520 kgs of mangoes and 236 litres of mango juice.

While recent health raids were conducted specifically in Maninagar and nearby areas, the one on Thursday was carried out in the entire city. The health department’s sanitary staff visited several areas of the city in different teams, in order to check on vendors offering carbide-ripened mangoes and the quality of mango juice being sold in the market.

During the checking, the staff found many vendors placing carbide packets in mango cartons to artificially ripen the mangoes. “In all, the staff served 208 notices and charged an administrative charge of Rs68,450 from the vendors. Also, we have seized 25 kgs of carbide powder from them,” said Dr Bhavin Solanki, in-charge medical health officer of AMC.

Not only mangoes, but the department is also trying to prevent food poisoning in the city by rigorously checking the quality of food products. The health flying squad of AMC carried out a health raid on different juice selling points and collected samples to check if the product is as per the Food Safety and Standards Act requirements.