Authorities in Karnataka’s Udupi district raided three locations in Alevoor village on Thursday following reports of an illegal banana-ripening operation using chemicals and artificial colouring agents.
A team led by Kundapur Assistant Commissioner Rashmi SR conducted simultaneous raids at warehouses in Kemthur and the nearby Duggili area. Officials seized around 5,000 kg of raw bananas worth approximately ₹4 lakh, along with chemicals, artificial colours, processing equipment and vehicles allegedly used in the operation. Police have registered a case.
Officials said the action followed intelligence that chemically treated bananas were being supplied to shops, weekly markets and street vendors in and around Udupi.
During the raid, authorities reportedly found workers using drums and buckets containing chemical solutions to ripen the bananas. Officials said some bananas were also allegedly sprayed directly with chemicals to speed up the ripening process and improve their appearance.
Assistant Commissioner Rashmi said the bananas could be ripened overnight or within two days through the process. She also questioned workers at the facility, one of whom reportedly said the practice had been continuing for nearly two decades.
The incident has raised concerns because authorities have previously taken action against similar practices in the area. In 2016, the Principal Civil Judge Court in Udupi issued an injunction against a banana storage facility near Rampura-Kemthur Road after allegations that banned calcium carbide was being used for artificial ripening.
Food safety experts explain that artificial ripening itself is not illegal. Fruits such as bananas, mangoes and papayas are often harvested before they fully ripen so they can be transported without spoiling. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) permits the use of ethylene gas for controlled artificial ripening.
However, the use of calcium carbide or acetylene gas for artificial ripening is prohibited under food safety regulations because of the potential health risks associated with these substances.
Experts say ethylene is considered suitable because it is a naturally occurring plant hormone that triggers the ripening process. It can be supplied through approved sources under controlled conditions, but direct contact between fruits and certain chemicals is not permitted.
Food safety officials have warned that the use of unauthorised chemicals for ripening can pose health risks. Udupi district food safety officer Vivek T said some of the substances seized during the raid are normally used to promote plant growth and are not intended for use in fruit-ripening processes.
Experts have also raised concerns that improper chemical treatment could affect the quality and safety of the fruit. Consumers are therefore advised to buy fruits from reliable sellers and established shops and to avoid produce that appears unusually coloured or ripened.
