Surprise checks in 47 fruit and vegetable markets across Punjab

Chandigarh, November 14, 2019: Under Tandrust Punjab Mission, a host of teams including those constituted at Divisional, District and at the Market Committee level conducted surprise checks on Thursday in 47 fruit and vegetable markets across the State, informed KS Pannu, Director Tandrust Punjab Mission.
He said that along with the tightening of the noose around unhealthy and adulterated food in the city, efforts are afoot to improve the quality of food being sold in the market. In line with this the teams comprising of the officials of Health, Horticulture Department and Mandi Board have been carrying out regular inspections in the State. They inspected the mandis for rotten and unscientifically ripened fruits and vegetables, unfit for human consumption.
It was found that around 35.68 quintal fruits and vegetables were rotten and were destroyed on the spot, informed Pannu. “We have been conducting regular drives in Punjab and it has been observed that usage of certain chemicals like calcium carbide to artificially ripen the fruits has considerably reduced, in fact is negligible and the frequent inspections are acting as deterrent to the errant ”, said he.
The fruits and vegetables found unfit for human consumption were to the tune of 1.70 quintal vegetables in Sirhind, 2.60 quintals fruits and vegetables in Bassi Pathana, 2.10 quintals in Patiala, 2.50 quintals of vegetables at Bhawanigarh, 1.0 quintal veggies in Kharar, 1.80 quintal fruits and vegetables in Sunam, 1.20 quintal in Malerkotla. Besides, 4.00 quintal vegetables at Rampura Phool, 1.87 quintal fruits at Abohar, 2.85 quintal fruits and vegetables at Mansa, 0.50 quintal at Tarn Taran, 1.05 quintal at Batala, 0.50 quintals of fruits in vegetables in Amritsar and 0.80 quintals of fruits and vegetables in Jalandhar.