Markets today are flooded with fruits and vegetables that are artificially ripened using deadly chemicals which can have devastating effect on the health of citizens. The government is aware of the same, but has given a Nelson’s Eye to the situation because companies manufacturing such chemicals bribe govt employees and bureaucrats so that the sale of their products is not affected. Even Chinese companies too have dumped harmful chemicals into our markets and this will have an adverse effect on people. Traders of commodities too use such harmful products so that fruits can be ripened faster without waiting for them to ripen naturally which can be time consuming. These people too bribe officials to overlook this dangerous illegality.
Government should not be penny wise and pound foolish but come down heavily on those who use such poisonous chemicals which can be fatal on citizens. Food adulteration should be checked and those guilty should be severely punished. Citizens too should boycott chemically ripened mangoes and fruits. Traders would not adulterate if there is no market for such products and people too need to be educated on the harmful effects of such chemicals on commodities we eat!
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
