Kolhapur, India to crack down on carbide ripened mango
Assistant commissioner M S Kembalkar of the FDA told TOI on Wednesday that the mango ripened by using carbide is harmful to health and the chemical is banned under the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006 and Regulations (FSSR), 2011.
He said the mango season is about to start and the department will take strict action against the traders found using carbide. "Some traders use this short-cut to artificially ripen the fruit. Carbide is a carcinogenic substance and one should refrain from using it," he said.
Jayan Watave, a medical practitioner, said, "The use of calcium carbide turns the outer skin of the fruit yellow and even makes it saffron, but the inner portion remains unripe. The fruit looks ideal for consumption but the sweetness is missing. Carbide kills the sugary content and every other nutrient before the fruit goes into the human body."
source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
