In a surprising move, the United States has rejected and destroyed 15 consignments of Indian mangoes—fruit considered the “king” of all. The total value of the destroyed shipments is estimated to be over ₹4.28 crore. The reason? Document errors during the radiation process, not the fruit itself.

According to a report by The Economic Times, the mangoes were stopped at major U.S. entry points including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Atlanta airports. U.S. customs officials cited irregularities in radiation treatment documentation, a key safety protocol used to eliminate pests and extend shelf life.

The process had been carried out on May 8 and 9 in Mumbai, in the presence of a USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) official, who oversees and certifies the mandatory PPQ203 form—required for mango imports into the U.S.

Exporters say the problem wasn’t with the mangoes themselves, but rather with the documentation prepared at the Navi Mumbai radiation center. Despite USDA oversight, paperwork issues led to the drastic decision.

The U.S. authorities reportedly gave Indian exporters two options:

• Send the shipments back to India, or
• Destroy them in the U.S.

Given the short shelf life of mangoes and the high cost of reverse shipping, all exporters opted for destruction—resulting in significant financial losses.

The U.S. is one of the largest buyers of Indian mangoes, and this setback has raised concerns among exporters about logistics, compliance, and oversight lapses. One unnamed exporter blamed the radiation center for procedural errors even in the presence of American officials.

Industry experts believe this incident could lead to:

• Stricter inspections on future shipments,
• Review of radiation facility operations in India,
• And greater emphasis on export documentation accuracy.

With India trying to boost its agri-exports, the rejection of high-value mango consignments by a key trade partner like the U.S. serves as a wake-up call for tighter quality and compliance standards.