In the wake of reports about the presence of highly toxic and cancer causing calcium carbide in the mangoes imported from other states, the Food Safety Commissioner has ordered an inspection across the state. The mangoes imported from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are found to have the presence of carbide.
“As many as 14 people in the state were hospitalised with food poisoning after eating mangoes which were ripened using calcium carbide. The samples collected from a shop in Kochi were tested at the Regional Analytical Laboratory (RAL), Ernakulam, and the result was positive. The test results of the samples collected from Palakkad district were also positive,” said Sreekala K, Food Safety Officer at Karunagappally, Kollam.
The Food Safety Officers collected samples on Monday and sent them to labs.
“Mangoes ripened using calcium carbide cause vomiting, diarrhoea, burning sensation in chest and abdomen, numbness in limbs and low blood pressure. The use of calcium carbide in food items is prohibited under Rule 44 AA of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act,” said Pradeep V K, Food Safety Officer in Kasargod.
He also said that for ripening one load of mangoes, a small piece of calcium carbide is enough.
“The calcium carbide emits acetylene gas and gives ripened colour to mangoes,” Pradeep added.