An awareness meeting on food safety and ethical mango ripening was conducted by the H-FAST team along with GHMC Food Safety Officers, in line with guidelines set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
The initiative was carried out under the direction of V. C. Sajjanar, aiming to educate traders and vendors about safe and approved practices for ripening mangoes. The session was led by Vaibhav Raghunath Gaikwad and followed recent inspections and raids on mango storage units, where misuse of ethylene for artificial ripening had been detected.
Around 30 mango traders and vendors attended the meeting. Officials explained FSSAI norms in detail and conducted a live demonstration on the correct and safe use of ethylene for fruit ripening. They also highlighted the dangers of using unauthorized chemicals, which can pose serious health risks to consumers.
Authorities urged traders to strictly follow safety guidelines and avoid harmful practices. They warned that strict legal action would be taken against those found violating food safety regulations.
The meeting is part of ongoing efforts by GHMC to ensure public health and promote responsible practices in the food supply chain, especially during the mango season.
