Mehsana, Gujarat: As India rides the peak of mango season — when the fruit’s aroma fills markets and kitchens — food-safety officials in Gujarat sounded an alarm after uncovering a large stash of spoiled mangoes at a wholesale juice plant in Mehsana.
According to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), inspectors uncovered and seized the rotting fruit during a recent raid at the facility, halting its use in juice production before it could reach consumers, as reported by The Economic Times.
Video footage shared by FSSAI shows mounds of decomposing mangoes inside the premises. Close-up shots in the clip reportedly display fruit that is badly damaged and riddled with worms, insects and fungal growth. Officials removed the contaminated fruit before any of it could be turned into juice and have taken enforcement measures against the operators.
In a social media post, FSSAI wrote, “The Gujarat Food Safety Department cracked down on the wholesale production of mango juice in Mehsana. During the inspection, enforcement teams discovered and seized a massive stock of mangoes intended for juice extraction. Mangoes used for juice extraction were found heavily rotten, worm-eaten, and visibly infested with fungus and insects. Strict enforcement action has been taken against the violators.”
Mango products see peak demand across India in summer, and the discovery has raised concerns because mango pulp is a key ingredient in many seasonal items. Packaged drinks, fresh juices, ice creams, desserts and traditional beverages commonly use mango pulp, increasing the potential reach of contaminated supplies.
Why Rotten Fruit Poses Health Risks
The incident underscores the public-health risks tied to using decayed fruit in food processing. Rotten mangoes can harbor pathogenic bacteria and aggressive fungal contaminants that not only compromise the safety of the immediate batch but can also spread through an entire production run, rendering many products unsafe for consumption.
Health specialists caution that consuming products made from rotten fruit may cause foodborne illnesses and gastrointestinal issues. Reported symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhoea and other stomach-related ailments.
