In the city of Puducherry, it has recently come to the light that calcium carbide stones are being used to ripen the mangoes artificially. Complaints were received by Food Safety officials as consumers began to fall ill on eating these chemically ripened mangoes. Health Secretary and Food Safety Commissioner G Ragesh Chandra has sent out a stern warning to all food business enterprises dealing with mangoes to stop the sale and storage of artificially ripened mangoes.
Even after the warning carbide ripened mangoes are flooding the market forcing health safety officials to carry out raids of mango go-downs and wholesale dealers. Almost 4.5 tonnes of artificially ripened mangoes have been seized and destroyed in Union Territory of Pudicherry in the past few months following the raids.
According to The Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulations, 2011 sale of carbide ripened fruit is a punishable offence. A top official said that a penalty up to Rs 5 lakh, along with imprisonment of six months is likely to be imposed on those found guilty of selling carbide ripened mangoes.
The harmful effects of consuming chemically treated mangoes with carbide include stomach upset, vomiting, diarrhoea, burning sensation in the chest and abdomen, weakness, sore throat and cough. Other serious effects include skin ulcers, difficulty in swallowing, short breath and sometimes permanent damage.
Some people opined that ‘Ethion’ chemical may be used for mango ripening; however, no scientific validated published information is available on the same. So, consumers must soak mangoes for at least 30 mins. in water and then rinse them at least two times more in potable water prior to eating them. It is also advisable not to place the mango peels in the mouth but to remove the skin completely and eat only the fleshy portion.
European Union had also banned the import of mangoes from India earlier this year on health concerns of their people as artificially ripened mangoes pose a big health risk for humans.
Carbide treated mangoes may look attractive to the eye as they expose a uniform surface colour but the tissues inside remain unripe and even raw. They are also inferior in taste as they have almost no flavour and aroma and the worst part is that they are toxic.
It is not easy to select the correct type of mangoes but one of the signs of naturally ripened mangoes is that they are not uniformly coloured though the texture could be attractive. They also exude a good aroma and are full of flavor.
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