The Food and Safety Department has decided to take penal action against the nine wholesale and retailer fruit sellers for using calcium carbide to ripen fruits.
The samples were collected from the fruits market at Kedareswaripeta here.
The samples were collected during an inspection conducted by the food safety officials a few days ago.
Cases were registered under relevant provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act against the nine persons for using artificial ripeners on bananas, apples, grapes and sweet lemon, according to officials.
In a related development, Joint Collector Gandham Chandrudu on Tuesday convened a coordination meeting with officials from Vijayawada Municipal Corporation, Food and Safety, Marketing, Panchayatraj and Horticulture departments to educate fruit sellers on the ill effects of using calcium carbide to ripen fruits.
He asked authorities concerned to inspect markets regularly and take stern action against those who use calcium carbide as ripeners.
