Telangana to tighten food adulteration act

Hyderabad: The TS government will tighten the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1955, to check the use of calcium carbide for artificial ripening of fruits and vegetables.

The government came under fire from the Hyderabad HC for failing to curb the carbide menace in vegetable and fruit markets which is creating severe health problems for consumers.

The government is planning to impose a penalty of up to RS 5 lakh and imprisonment up to five years for selling carbide-ripened fruits and vegetables.

Marketing minister T. Harish Rao will convene a high-level meeting on Aug. 25 to finalise laws for checking the carbide menace.

Though the government of undivided AP issued a GO in 2012 banning the use of carbide for ripening it remained on paper. However, the TS government was forced to act against the carbide menace after the HC took a serious view of the issue.