GUNTUR: Due to unseasonal rains and subsequent decline in mango yield this season, the tendency among sellers to accelerate fruit ripening to boost sales and make easy money is likely to increase. Keeping this in mind, the district food safety department officials have issued a warning to fruit sellers and traders to refrain from using calcium carbide for the artificial ripening of mangoes or be ready to face stern action.
The officials have begun conducting inspection drives to identify people who are resorting to the early ripening of fruits. As per the officials, the mangoes ripened by using calcium carbide are harmful to health, and the chemical is banned under the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSS), 2006, and FSS Regulations Act, 2011.
The intake of calcium carbide affects the nervous system causing severe headaches, fatigue and hormonal imbalance in pregnant women. In severe conditions, it also affects the liver and kidneys and further leads to cancer.
“The mangoes need to be ripened naturally and using calcium carbide should be refrained by the vendors. We observed that some vendors are directly spraying the chemicals on fruits to earn more profits posing a serious threat to public safety. We conducted a meeting with the fruit traders in the city and warned them against the use of calcium carbide for ripening mangoes. The officials gave necessary instructions on safe practices in fruit ripening while handling, storing, and selling fruits,” said Guntur district assistant food controller Sk Gouse Mohiddin.
Stating that the use of ethylene, a hormone naturally produced in fruits, can be used for artificial ripening, Mohiddin said that currently, ethylene sachets have become popular among small traders.