Guwahati (Assam): Continuing its drive against carbide-laden fruits the Food Safety Department of Assam conducted a drive at Fancy Bazar area in Guwahati and seized a large quantity of mangoes containing carbide.
The officials of the Food Safety Department also conducted the drive in the Bongaigaon district on Thursday aiming at ensuring food safety.
A senior official of the Food Safety department told over the phone that, the staff of Food Safety went to the fruit market of Fancy Bazar in Guwahati, Pagalasthan and Barabazar in Bongaigaon and checked various fruits including mangoes.
"We have collected the samples of different fruits and sent them to the laboratory for necessary testing," the officer said.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has alerted traders, fruit handlers and Food Business Operators (FBOs) operating ripening chambers to strictly ensure compliance with the prohibition on calcium carbide for artificial ripening of fruits, particularly during the mango season.
FSSAI is also advising Food Safety Departments of States and Union Territory to remain vigilant and take serious action and deal stringently against the person(s) indulging in such unlawful practices as per the provisions of the FSS Act, 2006 and Rules and Regulations made thereunder.
