Haridwar, May 3 -- Food Safety and Drugs department teams are conducting surprise inspections at agricultural produce markets, fruit shops, distributors, vendors and storage facilities to check malpractices related to artificial fruit ripening. On Saturday, a team led by deputy commissioner (food safety), Garhwal division, Rajendra Singh Rawat carried out inspections in Roorkee following directives from Food Safety Commissioner Sachi Kurve. "Checks were conducted at wholesale retailers as well as vendors to ensure that ethylene gas is being used within permissible limits and that provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act are being strictly followed. Notices are being served to violators, and stakeholders are being sensitised to adopt natural ripening practices," said Rawat. Earlier this week, joint teams of the food safety department, police and revenue officials conducted a raid at a khoya manufacturing unit in Malhiyali, Laksar, under the leadership of district food safety officer Mahimanand Joshi. During the raid, the team seized around 70 kg of suspicious khoya, 50 kg of semolina, vegetable oil, curd and skimmed milk packets found stored in unhygienic conditions. The unit owner, identified as Munabbar, failed to produce mandatory documents, including a food licence. Samples were collected for testing, and the seized items were destroyed at the Simli dumping ground....