The Food Safety Department raided the Lakshmisagar banana warehouse in Bhubaneswar on Thursday, uncovering rampant use of banned chemicals to artificially ripen fruits.
Despite repeated warnings, retailers were found spraying Ethephon, a chemical used to hasten ripening, on bananas and other fruits. Officials confirmed that while limited use of approved agents is permitted, excessive and unsafe application has been reported frequently.
During the raid, samples were collected from 25 warehouses, and hundreds of bottles of chemical substances were seized. Authorities imposed heavy fines and sealed more than 20 retail shops for violating food safety norms.
Food Safety officials emphasised that the priority is to protect consumers from harmful practices. “Our first step was to warn traders, but since violations continued, strict action was necessary,” said a departmental officer.
