There was a time when the saying ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’ was relevant. But recent developments in Kerala have rendered the good old saying meaningless. Over the last few days cases of apples, especially imported ones, being coated with wax have been found.
“Apples are not alone. Mangoes, guavas all are contaminated,” says T S Praveen, a customer. The other day guava was found to be coloured on its peel at Koyilandi. The mangoes appear to be ripened by keeping them in a room which contains calcium carbide. While reacting with the air in the room the above said compound produces acetylene gas which gives yellow colour to the mango peel.
Yet, the fruit sales in Kochi doesn’t seem to be affected by the complaints so far. “I sold as much as 10 kg apples by afternoon. I don’t indulge in any malpractice, and have been doing brisk business,” said A Ali, a fruit seller.
Fruit shop owners in the city unanimously state that they are not aware of any contamination being done by some among them. However, M Hussain, a fruit seller accused wholesale shops for adulterating fruits.
“In any case, such occurrences have not been reported in the district till date. But people have to be vigilant while buying fruits,” says G Gopalakrishnan who is a research officer at Food Safety Commissioners Office in Thiruvananthapuram. Authorities of Karshakamunnettam, an organisation run by farmers at Palakkad, said that it had come to their attention that some parties in Tamil Nadu were involved in the malpractices and investigations were being done on their part.
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