Muscat – The Central Fruit and Vegetables Market (Silal) has responded to concerns over the disposal of damaged watermelons and cantaloupes after videos and reports of the same circulated on social media.

In a statement, Silal assured consumers that the discarded produce did not pose any health risks, attributing the spoilage to transportation challenges over long distances. ‘The produce was not contaminated with harmful chemical residues or materials. The spoilage occurred during transportation over more than 1,000km,’ the statement said.

Silal emphasised that all imported products undergo strict inspection by Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources. ‘All chemical residues are carefully tested and appropriate measures are taken to ensure the safety of products sold in the market,’ it added.

The damaged produce was safely disposed of in coordination with Barka Municipality using a be’ah landfill, preventing any resale or distribution to consumers.