Take samples to check for artificial ripening of fruit
FDA officials inspect godowns in Margao storing mangoes, both from Goa and outside.
MARGAO
It was 3 am on Tuesday. With mangoes, both from local farms and across the state borders, flooding the markets, a team of Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) descended in the commercial capital with a mission – check artificial ripening of mangoes, if any and initiate action.
Led by FDA officer Sanjyot Kudalkar, the team inspected around 4-5 godowns storing mangoes, both local produce as well as mangoes arriving from outside the state and collected samples.
The team later descended at the Pimpalkatta area of the New Market, which plays host to the Mango market, starting in the wee hours of the day.
FDA officer Kudalkar told The Goan that the teams have only collected around 15 samples, both from the godown as well as from the market.
“Our future action will follow based on the reports of the study conduct on the mango samples. If the reports confirm that the mangoes were ripened artificially, the FDA teams will take action”, she said.
Saying the FDA teams is maintaining strict vigil on the arrival of mangoes from outside the state, Kudalkar has warned of stern action against artificial ripening of mangoes.
