Come summer and the sales of fruits, especially mangoes, increases
exponentially. People see it as the safest and the tasty way to beat the
intense heat of the season, and the dehydration that accompanies it.
A large district such as Coimbatore consumes, according to a
conservative estimate, over 15 tonnes of mangoes every single day during
peak summer.
However, the supply does not always meet this huge quantum of demand for
a multitude of reasons and unscrupulous traders, intent on making a
quick buck, resort to illegal measures to artificially ripen not only
mangoes, but a whole gamut of fruits that sell well now.
More than 3.5 tonnes of artificially-ripened chikoo (‘sapota’) were
seized from just two shops last year, indicating the scale of the
problem, says R. Kathiravan, Designated Officer, Tamil Nadu Food Safety
and Drug Administration Department (Food Safety Wing).
Explaining the process behind artificial ripening, he says ethylene gas
initiates the ripening process in a fruit. Normally, several other
processes follow this step, including the conversion of starch to sugar,
the crucial step which makes mangoes so mouth-wateringly tasty.
However, in an artificially ripened fruit, only the chlorophyll (green
pigment) changes colour and none of the other natural processes take
place. This results in a seemingly ripe fruit tasting very sour.
The process
Among the most common method for artificial ripening, he says, is the
use of calcium carbide - primarily due to its easy availability and
cheap cost - which emits acetylene gas when mixed with water. Calcium
carbide is predominantly used in arc welding.
Just one kilogram of this substance, brought for as little as Rs. 30,
can ripen around 10 tonnes of fruits. For example, he says raw fruits of
the much-sought after Imam Pasand mango can be procured for half its
market price, ripened using a kilogram of carbide and sold for the
market price, resulting in a 100 per cent profit.
The calcium crystals, Dr. Kathiravan says, are kept among the stones for
12 hours, mostly during the nights making it difficult to catch the
errant traders.
Other less-common methods include the use of Ethiphon, a pesticide in
liquid form which is diluted and sprayed on the fruits, and Oxytocin, a
hormone injected into the fruits.
Health hazard
The major health hazard is the acetylene gas emitted by calcium carbide.
This targets the neurological system and reduces the oxygen supply to
the brain.
While short-term effects include sleeping disorders and headaches, he
says the long term effects are memory loss, seizures, mouth ulcers, skin
rashes, renal problems and possibly, even cancer.
Any one having information on artificial ripening of fruits could mail
the information to dofssacbe@gmail.com. All information will be kept in
confidence and action taken, assures Dr. Kathiravan.
Source:http://www.thehindu.com
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