The Hyderabad city police have arrested seven people and seized a large number of mangoes from fruit vendors who were using chemicals to ripen the fruits. The raids were conducted in various areas of the city with the help of GMHC’s Food Safety officials and area police.
During the raids, the police found large quantities of ripened carbide and ethylene, which are used to artificially ripen mangoes. The arrested individuals were found with trays of mangoes and sachets of these chemicals, totaling a significant amount of money.
The police discovered that the accused were supplying these artificially ripened mangoes to different fruit shops and juice centers in the city, taking advantage of the high demand for fruits during the holy month of Ramzan and marriage season. These illegal methods pose serious health risks to the public, including respiratory and skin ailments.
The excessive use of chemicals like ethylene and calcium carbide can lead to severe health issues such as skin burns, irritation, inflammation, and lung irritation if inhaled. Additionally, the presence of arsenic in mangoes due to these methods can cause heavy metal poisoning and other neurological diseases.
