On Sunday, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) seized one ton of artificially ripened bananas and plantains from a market in Tiruppur. According to officials, a trader had used the ripening agent ethephon on the bananas and plantains kept for sale. The stock of artificially ripened bananas and plantains were seized from a market at Thennampalayam.
A team of food safety officials headed by B. Vijayalalithambigai, Designated Officer of FSSAI in Tiruppur, conducted a surprise check in the fruit market around 5 a.m. The officials inspected several fruit stalls and found that the stock of bananas and plantains at one shop was artificially ripened using ethephon. They also found a bottle of ethephon and diluted solution from the shop.
“The trader admitted of spraying ethephon on the fruits by diluting seven ml of the solution in five litres of water. The stock of bananas was shifted from the market and destroyed,” said Dr. Vijayalalithambigai.
Food safety officials carried out the surprise check in the fruit market based on instructions from the District Collector after two tons of bananas, ripened using ethephon, were seized from Koyembedu wholesale market last month.
