Pune: FDA Begins Raids On Food Stalls, Shops To Ensure Quality Of Cold Drinks, Fruits & Ice Creams

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has begun conducting raids on shops and other establishments selling soft drinks, fruits and ice creams for quality checking. The drive started on April 1 and will continue till the end of the summer season.

"To ensure that people get good quality cold drinks, caffeinated beverages and seasonal fruits like mangoes, which are free from artificial ripening agents like calcium carbide, we are conducting surprise raids. I have instructed the food safety officers to inspect sugarcane juice joints, ice cream parlours and mango stalls to rule out any substandard and unsafe items being sold in the market," said Dr Suresh Annapure, Joint Commissioner, FDA (Food), Pune region.

Artificial ripening of mangos using calcium carbide and sprayed ethylene in liquid form is prohibited. The practice is harmful to health and is banned under the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSS), 2006 and FSS Regulations, 2011. However, in 2016, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) permitted the use of ethylene, a hormone naturally produced in fruits, to be used for artificial ripening. According to the guidance note, external application of ethylene gas generated from various sources such as ethylene gas cylinders, compressed ethylene gas, ethanol, ethephon, etc., can be used to ripen fruits. However, the fruits should be wrapped in paper to prevent direct contact with the gas.

"The fraudulent practice is carried out by a few vendors to make the fruit more appealing to us, but it should be stopped completely. Two days back, I bought a watermelon from a stall on the roadside under the shade of trees, and after cutting it, the pulp appeared redder than usual and was too sweet. It was adulterated, and the problem with these fruit sellers is that they are temporary. There should be a strict watch on all the fruit vendors," said Geeta Prasad, a resident of Lohegoan.

The FDA official confirmed that officials have begun inspecting vendors and ensuring compliance with regulations. He emphasised that every vendor must display their license for using ice at their stall. FDA officials further clarified that ice is produced in two forms: edible ice cubes and large industrial ice slabs. While ice cubes are safe for consumption, they are more expensive, making them less common in smaller stalls. Officials have appealed to consumers to check the quality of ice before consuming chilled beverages, emphasising that health and safety should not be compromised for temporary relief from the heat.