Vadodara: Adulterated Mango Juice And Spoiled Fruits Destroyed During Checking

In view of the ongoing summer season, the municipality has been carrying out checks in mango warehouses, mango juice tents, temporary outlets of sugarcane juice, and units selling non-packaged drinking water (jugs) in different areas of the Vadodara city for the last one month. The Food Safety Officer of the Food Department inspected 63 mango warehouses, 37 manufacturers of non-packaged drinking water (water jugs), 49 mango juice tents, and 67 outlets of sugarcane juice in different areas. After checking the use of calcium carbide in mango warehouses, approximately 570 kg of spoiled and cut fruits were destroyed on the spot.

Due to the summer season, a variety of fruits including mangoes are being sold in the market, in warehouses of the city in areas such as behind the Khanderao Market , Siddhanath Gate, and Verai Mata Chowk. Considering this situation, along with the well-being of the health of the public, 2 teams were formed by the Designated Officer and Additional Health Officer Dr. Mukesh Vaidya and the Food Safety Officers of the Food Department to conduct random checking, as per the instructions of the Corporation’s Municipal Commissioner Arun Mahesh Babu.

A surprise check was conducted in 63 warehouses, regarding the use of calcium carbide as an artificial ripener by traders selling fruits. As a result, approximately 570 kg of cut and spoiled fruits have been destroyed on the spot including mangoes, mosambi, oranges, pomegranates, papayas, and chickoos. However, calcium carbide was not found at any place.

Food Safety Officers of the Food Department conducted surprise checks on 37 manufacturers of non-packaged drinking water (water jugs). The sources of their water were inspected, and the manufacturers have been instructed to maintain cleanliness and submit water reports twice a year.

The Food Safety Officers conducted checks at 67 sugarcane juice stalls and 49 mango juice stalls in various areas, and destroyed around 117 kg of cut open fruits, 637 kg of mango juice containing synthetic food color, 47 kg of cut fruits, and 3 kg of synthetic food color on the spot.

Several teams of Food Safety Officers of the Food Department have been formed, which are conducting surprise checks over the past 1 month. As a part of the checks, 72 samples of spices, oil, ghee, ice cream, mango juice, mango milkshake, prepared food, etc. have been taken from shops in various areas, and have been sent to the Public Health Laboratory for analysis.

The Food and Drug Regulatory Authority, Gandhinagar provided “Food Safety on Wheels” (Mobile Food Testing Van), through which 2 training programs and 23 awareness programs were organized in different areas.

Checking was conducted in various roadside eateries, and 689 samples of spices, oil ,ghee, gravy, mawa, sweets, ice cream, crushes-syrups, chutneys, prepared food, etc. were checked on the spot, and the density of oil was measured at 37 places with the help of TPC machine.

Keeping in mind the summer season and the well-being of the public, intensive checking and sampling procedures are being carried out under the Food Safety and Standards Act-2006 and Rules and Regulations-2011. As per Schedule-4, strict instructions to maintain cleanliness have been also given.