Spoiled fruits seized in Trichy

Trichy: Food safety officers conducted a special enforcement drive across Trichy district on Saturday and found violations in five establishments of 155 shops inspected.Supervised by district designated food safety officer Jagadeesh Chandra Bose, the drive focused on preventing the use of calcium carbide, which is banned under the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011, due to potential health risks.As part of the drive, officials inspected fruit markets, wholesale mandis, warehouses, distribution centres and cold storage facilities. During the inspections, officials seized and destroyed around 30kg of spoiled mangoes and other fruits found unfit for consumption. Penalties were imposed on the food business operators found violating norms.Food business operators and traders were also sensitised on the procedures to be followed for safe and legal fruit ripening practices. They were warned that the misuse of chemical substances in food production and handling poses a threat to public health.