Around 300 kilograms of bananas were destroyed in Mapusa after authorities raised concerns that the fruit may have been chemically ripened using prohibited substances, prompting renewed discussions on food safety and consumer health.
The action was taken as part of ongoing efforts to curb the sale of fruits allegedly ripened using hazardous chemicals, which can pose serious health risks to consumers. Officials stressed the importance of adhering to approved food safety practices and warned traders against the use of illegal ripening agents.
The incident has also highlighted the growing need for regulated ripening chambers, which use scientifically controlled methods to ripen fruits safely and uniformly. Traders and stakeholders have urged the government to facilitate access to certified ripening infrastructure, arguing that such facilities would help maintain fruit quality, ensure compliance with food safety norms, and reduce dependence on unsafe practices.
Food safety experts have long advocated the use of ethylene-based ripening chambers, which are approved under regulatory guidelines, instead of harmful chemicals such as calcium carbide that have been associated with potential health hazards.
Authorities have reiterated that inspections will continue across markets to ensure consumers have access to safe and quality produce, while urging vendors to adopt legal and scientifically approved ripening methods.
