Hyderabad: H-FAST teams carried out a raid in Asif Nagar and exposed artificial ripening of mangoes using ethylene, seizing large quantities of fruit.
Officials seized around 7 tonnes of mangoes from a warehouse during the operation. They found nearly 350 trays stocked inside the premises.
Investigators said operators sourced the mangoes from Batasingaram market and stored them for supply to local markets. However, they used chemical agents to speed up the ripening process in violation of food safety norms.
Authorities registered a case against the warehouse operators and sealed the godown. They said the action followed the detection of unsafe practices during inspection.
H-FAST raid uncovers chemical ripening, godown sealed
Further, officials warned that chemically ripened fruits posed serious health risks to consumers. They said such practices could harm public health if left unchecked.
Meanwhile, enforcement teams intensified checks on fruit storage units across the city. They said more inspections would follow to curb similar violations.
In addition, authorities urged traders to follow food safety regulations strictly. They warned of stringent action against those found violating norms.
Officials said the department would continue monitoring markets to prevent the sale of unsafe food products.