Artificial Ripening issues
Sanjana Gupta, it seems FSSAI has heard your concern raised in the circles. FSSAI to clamp down on artificial ripening of fruits using banned substances
Meenakshi Verma Ambwani Updated on March 25, 2019
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed food safety commissioners in all States and UTs to undertake “effective surveillance and enforcement activities” to prevent the use of banned substances - calcium carbide or acetylene gas -- for artificial ripening of fruits.
The regulator said that artificial ripening of fruits using prohibited substances poses a serious threat to the health of consumers. Keeping in mind the rampant use of banned calcium carbide and non-availability of alternative ripening agent, FSSAI had instead permitted the use of ethylene gas for ripening of fruits in 2016.
“Despite prohibition on sale of artificially ripened fruits by using calcium carbide, the prevalence of such ripened fruits in sthe market is a serious cause for concern and needs to be tackled effectively,” the food safety regulator said in an order.
“Commissioners of Food Safety of all States and UTs are hereby directed to initiate effective surveillance and enforcement activities to rule out any possibility of ripening of fruits with the aid of harmful and banned substances calcium carbide or acetylene gas. They are also advised to do similar exercise for vegetables to check the level of pesticides,” it added.
It has also asked commissioners to conduct awareness programmes at Mandi level targeted at vendors and food business operators. It also recommended use of electronic and print media to educate consumers and food businesses regarding this issue.
FSSAI has set a maximum permissible limit for ethylene usage and specified a standard operating procedure. more
Meenakshi Verma Ambwani Updated on March 25, 2019
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed food safety commissioners in all States and UTs to undertake “effective surveillance and enforcement activities” to prevent the use of banned substances - calcium carbide or acetylene gas -- for artificial ripening of fruits.
The regulator said that artificial ripening of fruits using prohibited substances poses a serious threat to the health of consumers. Keeping in mind the rampant use of banned calcium carbide and non-availability of alternative ripening agent, FSSAI had instead permitted the use of ethylene gas for ripening of fruits in 2016.
“Despite prohibition on sale of artificially ripened fruits by using calcium carbide, the prevalence of such ripened fruits in sthe market is a serious cause for concern and needs to be tackled effectively,” the food safety regulator said in an order.
“Commissioners of Food Safety of all States and UTs are hereby directed to initiate effective surveillance and enforcement activities to rule out any possibility of ripening of fruits with the aid of harmful and banned substances calcium carbide or acetylene gas. They are also advised to do similar exercise for vegetables to check the level of pesticides,” it added.
It has also asked commissioners to conduct awareness programmes at Mandi level targeted at vendors and food business operators. It also recommended use of electronic and print media to educate consumers and food businesses regarding this issue.
FSSAI has set a maximum permissible limit for ethylene usage and specified a standard operating procedure. more
Viewed by 1143
View all 18 comments Below 18 comments
I will still insist that vendors are required to be trained in best methods of artificial ripening as is being practiced all around the world so that we continue to get some fruits. more
Mar 31
Artificial ripening could be necessary in counties where climatic conditions do not allow fruits to ripen, as temperature plays an important role. In our country, this is not required in the normal course. Artificial ripening is considered only for commercial gains. more
Apr 01
Agarwalsab, contrary to it the mangoes or banana or other fruits which are exported they need to reach the respective country in unriped condition or by the time such bulk cargo reaches the distant country all fruits will be over riped n will be rotten.
So it is not simple what you say.
The use of ethylene gas promotes the natural hormone in that fruit, mainly in mangoes which ripens the fruit.
It is like from birth making a child adult , it is all against nature n no human race can service going against the nature.
One cannot make a new born baby to produce child.
I am not sure whether you will read this or other members, here.
We only talk in air many times n have no solution. I feel like quiting this circle , there is no use. more
So it is not simple what you say.
The use of ethylene gas promotes the natural hormone in that fruit, mainly in mangoes which ripens the fruit.
It is like from birth making a child adult , it is all against nature n no human race can service going against the nature.
One cannot make a new born baby to produce child.
I am not sure whether you will read this or other members, here.
We only talk in air many times n have no solution. I feel like quiting this circle , there is no use. more
Mar 31
Mr. Kaushikk, you have brought out the topic in the right season when the Mangoes have started arriving . As the season will go on till end August different varieties to arrive ,we must keep the pressure high on the authorities . If this is carried out for a couple of seasons then the practice will be given up . more
Mar 31
The Political Rule in States being fully backed and supported by Business Houses and Agencies, setting aside even H.C. and S.C. directive Orders. This is the system of Rights of States overriding the Healthcare, Union, and Judiciary. Many State Officials even are under Contempt of Court Cases still pending and running. more
Mar 30
Some good work has been done during the last 50 years on fruit ripening. What is needed is education so that prescribed amount of ethene is used. If we follow the prescribed method bananas, mangoes take about 5- 10 days to ripen and the match naturally ripened. But vendors are upto 100 times more concentration of ethrel which is being imported from China at a very cheap rate. 1 kg pouches available for rs 50- 80. more
Mar 30
