HC to hear plea against use of colours on veggies, fruits

The Delhi High Court today agreed to hear a PIL seeking a ban on sale of fruits and vegetables containing harmful artificial colours.
A bench, comprising Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice R S Endlaw, said the plea would be heard on May 21 along with a similar petition that relates to the presence of pesticides in fruits and vegetables.
The court was hearing the plea, filed by Sharad Tiwari and Sanjiv Agnihotri, alleging harmful chemical colours are being used by traders to show vegetables and fruits as fresh.
The plea, filed through lawyer Sugriv Dubey, has made Delhi government a party.

"The respondent be directed to take immediate steps to prevent the sale of fruits and vegetables, which contain the artificial colour for changing their actual shape and colour, to protect the consumer from eating injurious fruits and vegetables from market....To stop sale of polished fruits such as apple etc. And sale of mango containing carbohydrate in the market," the PIL said.
"The fruits and vegetables are transported to Delhi markets from different states and during the transportation the original colour fades ... And the traders start polishing the different fruits with artificial colour...,' it said.
The court is already hearing a similar petition after taking suo motu cognizance of presence of pesticides in vegetables and fruits.