advertising blitz to woo back shoppers scared off by the Jamaican mango alert.

Anxious bosses say sales of healthy Mexican mangoes have crashed amid widespread alarm.

Now they have put up notices in their stores to allay fears of maggot-infestation.

Worried shoppers also flooded the Department of Agriculture with calls yesterday.

Assistant director Dr. Roberta Dow said most callers were concerned for their health.

They also wanted reassurances Mexican mangoes were safe to eat.

"I told them there was no need to worry about their health. Our main concern is that the infestation does not get out into the environment.'' Dr. Dow stressed people should not throw mangoes in the trash -- this could spread contamination.

The alarm has been sounded over a fruit fly which arrived here in a shipment of Jamaican mangoes.

It is feared, without immediate action, the infestation could destroy locally grown fruit, such as mangoes, citrus, grapes, and ceylon gooseberries.

People have been urged to freeze mangoes they've bought, or hand them to the department.

Department officials have also cleared shops shelves of Jamaican mangoes.

The Market Place, meanwhile, has mounted a campaign to clear up possible confusion among shoppers.

Notices have gone up in their stores, stressing the safety of Mexican mangoes.

Bosses have also placed an advertisement, with a letter from Dr. Dow, in today's Royal Gazette , making the same point.

Dr. Dow's letter states the infested mango is the St. Julia variety, and adds: "It is a yellow-orange, somewhat flattened type, ranging in size from 3.5 to 5 inches in width.

"The Mexican mangoes in stores are not infested and do not pose a risk to Bermuda. The Mexican varieties are rounded, red-coloured varieties: Tommy Atkins and Kent, and may have stickers on them with the brand names Super Mango, Dole, Calavo, and Azteca.'' Mr. Allan Doughty, executive vice-president of The Market Place, said shoppers had been deterred from buying Mexican mangoes.

"They just won't buy them, even though there is absolutely nothing wrong with them.'' Several shoppers at The Supermart in Front Street have also raised fears about the safety of Mexican mangoes.

But manager Mr. Tredick Gorham said just one customer had returned a Jamaican mango.

"We obviously gave him a refund,'' he added.

Mr. Gorham said his store did not stock many Mexican mangoes, which are generally less popular than Jamaican ones.

"Hopefully this is only a short term problem,'' he said.

Mr. James Smith, produce manager for Devonshire's Lindo's Market, said his store had taken delivery of three cases of Jamaican mangoes. None were now on sale.

"No customer had returned any mangoes,'' he added.

Mr. Smith said Jamaican mangoes were generally of better quality and less expensive than Mexican ones.

Mr. Francisco Leite, produce manager of the Shopping Centre in Victoria Street, said his Mexican mangoes were selling reasonably well.