Move to crackdown on errant fruit sellers

Ishara MUDUGAMUWA

Legal action will be taken against vendors of artificially ripened fruits to provide healthy fruits for consumers, said Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardane at a Seminar on Safe Methods of Fruit Ripening at the National Committee on Post Harvest Technology and Value Addition.

Fruit consumption is at a low level in the country due to less production and low quality of fruits in the market. They are artificially ripened by introducing Carbide. Studies show that the consumption of these fruits cause cancer.

"We are concerned about the quality of fruits," the minister said.

Under the Food Act No 26 of the 1980, no person shall manufacture, import, sell or distribute any food that has upon it any natural or added deleterious substance which renders it injurious to health, and which is unfit for human consumption, said Health Ministry Environmental, Occupational Health and Food Safety Director T.B. Ananda Jayalal.

Scientists have found that as there are various barriers related to natural ripening, such as, long duration for ripening, higher moisture loss, poor outer appearance, high level of post harvest diseases, higher post harvest losses it is needed to have a proper method of artificial ripening.

There are two varieties of fruits; climacteric fruits, such as, mango, banana, avocado, papaya, durian, guava and; non climacteric fruits, such as, grapes, oranges, cherries. Only climacteric fruits can be ripened artificially, said Agriculture Department Food Technology Section Head K.H.Sarananda. He said fruits can be ripened by using ethylene gas. It is rare to find ethylene and it is also expensive.

Scientists have found that Ethral can be used for ethylene production.