KATHMANDU, Jan 24: The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) has expedited market inspection, citing growing chemical contamination in fresh vegetables being sold in the Kathmandu Valley.
According to the DFTQC, it tested vegetables being sold through the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market on Tuesday midnight for chemical contamination. Sanjeev Kumar Karn, director general of the DFTQC, told Republica that they confiscated 141 kg of green beans after the product was found laced with high level chemical contaminations.
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On the day, the department tested 150 samples of 22 types of fresh vegetables and fruits in one of the biggest hubs of the vegetable supply. Of the tested samples, green bean was found containing up to 42 percent of the enzyme inhibition.
Karn said they have mobilized a rapid response team to test the quality of vegetables after the department received increasing complaints over the issue. According to him, the team took the samples directly from trucks supplying vegetables to Kalimati market
As per the DFTQC rules, the food items with less than 35 percent of the enzyme inhibition is considered suitable for consumption. The agro products having chemical presence between 35-45 percent are put on hold at quarantine, while those with contamination of over 45 percent are not fit for consumption and are destroyed.
During tests carried out by the DFTQC a few weeks ago, a number of daily consumable products including green leafy vegetables, cauliflower, broccoli and green chilli were found containing high levels of pesticides. According to experts, the consumption of foods with chemical contamination can pose risks of health hazards including cancer to the consumers.
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