Calcilum Carbide being used to ripen mangoes
a lot of mangoes these days are ripened artificially by the use of toxic chemicals that are too bad for your health. Not only do they deprive the fruit of its health benefits, but it also introduces your system to dangerous chemicals that may harm you, or show severe side effects. One of the most common chemicals used to ripen mangoes artificially is calcium carbide (CaC2.) The toxic chemical contains arsenic and phosphorus that can have severe side-effects on human bodies and can even prove fatal. The well-known carcinogen, CaC2 can alter human cells into cancerous cells.
Be aware that there is Law against Calcium Carbide in India
Like most parts of the world, the use of calcium carbide is strictly banned as per PoFA (Prevention of Food Adulteration) Act [Section 44AA]. The chemical has been linked to various health issues and can be hazardous to human beings. Calcium carbide, once dissolved in water, produces acetylene that can help the artificial ripening process, however, at a considerable cost. Acetylene can affect the nervous system by reducing oxygen supply to the brain, and the Arsenic and phosphorus are toxic as well that can expose you to severe health hazards.
The substances popularly used to ripen mangoes are known to cause cancer, permanent eye damage, ulcers and even lung issues. However, the usage of such chemicals hasn't stopped.
Ways to find out that your mangoes are ripened using Calcium Carbide and other toxic materials:
Colour and Texture: The colour and texture of artificially ripened mangoes are usually uneven. There may be patches of green evident on the fruit as the chemical doesn't ripen the fruit evenly. Moreover, the texture too will be uneven.
Throat-irritation and burning sensation: Not all but many people suffer from the immediate reaction when they consume mangoes that are artificially ripened. Such fruit will make your throat irritated and also give you a slight burning sensation inside your mouth. Some people have even experienced side effects such as stomach ache, diarrhoea, etc.
Juice: Artificially ripened mangoes usually have no or little juice in them, and you will not be able to extract juice from the mangoes that are artificially ripened easily. Even after you try to squeeze the fruit using your hands like to make aamras or something, you will find little or no juice more
Be aware that there is Law against Calcium Carbide in India
Like most parts of the world, the use of calcium carbide is strictly banned as per PoFA (Prevention of Food Adulteration) Act [Section 44AA]. The chemical has been linked to various health issues and can be hazardous to human beings. Calcium carbide, once dissolved in water, produces acetylene that can help the artificial ripening process, however, at a considerable cost. Acetylene can affect the nervous system by reducing oxygen supply to the brain, and the Arsenic and phosphorus are toxic as well that can expose you to severe health hazards.
The substances popularly used to ripen mangoes are known to cause cancer, permanent eye damage, ulcers and even lung issues. However, the usage of such chemicals hasn't stopped.
Ways to find out that your mangoes are ripened using Calcium Carbide and other toxic materials:
Colour and Texture: The colour and texture of artificially ripened mangoes are usually uneven. There may be patches of green evident on the fruit as the chemical doesn't ripen the fruit evenly. Moreover, the texture too will be uneven.
Throat-irritation and burning sensation: Not all but many people suffer from the immediate reaction when they consume mangoes that are artificially ripened. Such fruit will make your throat irritated and also give you a slight burning sensation inside your mouth. Some people have even experienced side effects such as stomach ache, diarrhoea, etc.
Juice: Artificially ripened mangoes usually have no or little juice in them, and you will not be able to extract juice from the mangoes that are artificially ripened easily. Even after you try to squeeze the fruit using your hands like to make aamras or something, you will find little or no juice more
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It's not only mango, but other fruits ripened by carbide are papaya, sabota and banana. Though there are rules and raids but still these don't deter the traders from such practices. We now hear that some chemical from China is available which is even more harmful and not easy to detect. Till a natural way to ripen fruits quickly is not found this will go on. To nullify the negative effect of carbide, one should open the top head of the mango and soak it in water overnight. By this all the harmful gases trapped inside the fruit will escape and its negative effect will be greatly nullified. more
May 04
कार्बाइड से पके फल पूरे बाज़ार में बिक रहें है और पूरा क़ानून उसके सामने बौना है -कोई नियम नहीं है more
May 03
There are enough laws to curb this practice. It just needs will power to implement, rather weakened by strong political lobbying. more
May 02
I been related to pulping industry since 2005. Nowadays they are using ethylene to ripen the mangoes in a controlled environment and to reduce weight loss during ripening more
May 02
