AP Govt to take action against artificial ripening of fruits

Amaravati: Chief Secretary Dinesh Kumar warned that the government will take stringent action against the artificial ripening of fruits at a review meeting here on Wednesday.

He said, “The government has come to know that fruits are being sold in the market after artificially ripening by using calcium carbide, which is illegal.” Dinesh Kumar directed officials to lodge criminal cases against vendors who sell adulterated food in the markets.

To control the fruits adulteration in the open market, there was a need to establish testing laboratories at fruit market yards and other areas, the Chief Secretary directed. At the same time, he suggested to strengthen the existing testing laboratories in the State to improve their efficiency.

The officials concerned were directed to create awareness among public by using various platforms including social media, on health problems associated with consumption of adulterated fruits.

During the meeting, Dinesh Kumar said that the food adulteration is one of the problems faced by entire country and the same is existed in our State too.

He said that there must be a proper plan of action to control the food adulteration and ripening of fruits artificially. Consumption of adulterated food for long time will damage health severely, he informed.