Recently in a raid at Sector 26 the fruit and vegetable market in Sector 26, administration’s Health and Police team found rampant use of calcium carbide, a dangerous carcinogenic for artificial ripening of fruits, which led to an uproar in the city. The administration took serious and strict actions to curb the use of calcium carbide. However, within a month, the traders have successfully found a replacement to it, Chinese ethylene powder.
The sachets of the Chinese ethylene powder are scattered all over the place after being thrown out of cartons used to transport mangoes.
The traders claim the use of the Chinese ethylene powder is allowed, officers of the Health Department are waiting for a report of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India on it.
Sources said besides the Chinese ethylene sachets, the use of calcium carbide had not stopped completely in the market despite the crackdown. While checks are being carried out at the mandi, there is no check in apni mandis where ‘masala’ is mainly used for ripening of mangoes, bananas and papaya, and sometimes also for cheeku and tomatoes.
ABOUT ETHYLENE
The ethylene is in the form of a starchy powder, which slowly releases ethylene gas that causes mangoes and other fruits to ripen. While the actual process required five to six days for repining of fruits, “with the use of calcium carbide, it takes a few hours to ripen these”.
Dangerous Effects of Ethylene
- These sachets expose visitors to emissions of the hazardous chemical.
- Experts say ethylene is an equally potent carcinogenic as calcium carbide.
- Fruits ripened using ethylene powder can trigger gastritis, ulcer and cancer.
- The packets are also dangerous to cows and other animals at the market that survive on vegetable waste.
How to identify artificially ripened mangoes
- An artificially ripened mango will have green patches. These patches are clearly distinguishable from the yellow as it does not uniformly blend in with the yellow color of mangoes.
- Artificially ripened mango will also have an unnaturally bright yellow colour when compared to a naturally ripened mango.
- The artificially ripened mango causes slight burning in the mouth.
Please be careful when you buy veggies and fruits! Ethics seem to be hold no place in this materialist world.
UPDATE: Ethylene is considered the safest option to artificially ripen the fruits and veggies, only if used within a limit.
The FSSAI in its August 2016 gazette notice made clear “Provided that fruits may be artificially ripened by use of Ethylene gas at a concentration upto 100 ppm (100µl/L) depending upon the crop, variety and maturity”.
Ethylene becomes toxic if amount used is >33% and must be used under controlled temperature and humidity levels.
But, the bigger questions still remains unanswered are
ARE THE TRADERS ADHERING TO THE LIMIT?
IS THE CHEMICAL IN THE SACHETS ETHYLENE OR SOMETHING ELSE?
Source: The Tribune, The Hindu
Also Read: Unchecked Use Of Carcinogenics Found At Sector 26 Veggie & Fruit Market
Unchecked Use of Carcinogenics Found at Sector 26 Veggie & Fruit Market
Ratisha, Ethylene is not a carcinogen but a natural plant growth hormone for the ripening of climacteric fruits. The powder from China is wrongfully labelled as Ethylene, while it actually is powdered form of calcium carbide, which releases Acetylene, a counterfeit of Ethylene. The authorities are checking the chemical composition of the powder and soon the truth will be out.
Sir, Thank you for commenting here.
Ethylene is a natural ripening agent, I agree, but it is toxic and according to some experts cancer-causing if used unregulated and unchecked. The authorities report is still awaited on the true composition of the sachet named Chinese Ethylene powder used rampantly across the country. Let’s wait for the report.