Food regulator FSSAI has asked traders and food business operators not to use the banned product 'calcium carbide' for ripening of fruits.
In an official statement, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said it has "alerted traders'/fruits handlers/Food Business Operators (FBOs) operating ripening chambers to strictly ensure compliance with the prohibition on calcium carbide for artificial ripening of fruits, particularly during the mango season".
FSSAI has also advised Food Safety Departments of states/UTs to remain vigilant and take serious action and deal stringently against person(s) indulging in such unlawful practices as per the provisions of the FSS Act, 2006, and rules/regulations made thereunder.
"Calcium carbide, commonly used for ripening fruits like mangoes, releases acetylene gas, which contains harmful traces of arsenic and phosphorus.
"These substances, also known as 'Masala', can cause serious health issues such as dizziness, frequent thirst, irritation, weakness, difficulty in swallowing, vomiting and skin ulcers, etc," FSSAI said.
Additionally, acetylene gas is equally hazardous to those handling it.
"There are chances that calcium carbide may come in direct contact with fruits during application and leave residues of arsenic and phosphorus on fruits," the regulator said.
Due to these dangers, the use of calcium carbide for ripening fruits has been banned under the Regulation of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011.
This regulation explicitly states, "No person shall sell or offer or expose for sale or have in his premises for the purpose of sale under any description, fruits which have been artificially ripened by use of acetylene gas, commonly known as carbide gas".
Considering the issue of rampant use of banned calcium carbide, FSSAI has permitted the use of ethylene gas as a safer alternative for fruit ripening in India.
Ethylene gas can be used at concentrations up to 100 ppm, depending upon the crop, variety and maturity.
Ethylene, a naturally occurring hormone in fruits, regulates the ripening process by initiating and controlling a series of chemical and biochemical activities.
The treatment of unripe fruits with ethylene gas triggers the natural ripening process until the fruit itself starts producing ethylene in substantial quantities.
Further, the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee (CIB & RC) have approved Ethephon 39 per cent SL for the uniform ripening of mangoes and other fruits.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
FAQs
Ripening chemicals are used to keep fresh fruit available, even when it's not in season. But calcium carbide is risky to use because it's hazardous to human health. And reports of the use of calcium carbide have increased in recent years, mostly in developing countries.
Why is calcium carbide banned in India? ›
There are chances that calcium carbide may come in direct contact with fruits during application and leave residues of arsenic and phosphorus on fruits. Thus, use of this chemical for ripening of fruits is banned in India.
Is calcium carbide illegal? ›
Calcium carbide is sometimes used as source of acetylene, which like ethylene gas, is a ripening agent. However, this is illegal in some countries as, in the production of acetylene from calcium carbide, contamination often leads to trace production of phosphine and arsine.
How to get rid of calcium carbide from fruits? ›
Out of different washing treatments used for removal of residues dipping of fruit in solution of 2% Na2CO3 solution or in agri-biosoft aqueous solution for 12 hr was found effective in reducing the arsenic residue from 71.02 ppb to just 6.74-9.05 ppb from fruit surface.
What are the side effects of calcium carbide fruit? ›
Calcium carbide exposure can lead to neurological symptoms like dizziness, headache, mood disturbances, and even seizures in severe cases. The acetylene gas produced by calcium carbide can cause throat irritation, coughing, and difficulty in breathing.
Is calcium carbide safe to eat? ›
Calcium carbide treatment of food is extremely hazardous because it contains traces of arsenic and phosphorous. Once dissolved in water, the carbide produces acetylene gas. Acetylene gas may affect the neurological system by inducing prolonged hypoxia.
Is calcium carbide cancerous? ›
One of such chemicals in common use is calcium carbide (CaC2). Due to its nature, commercial CaC2 is consistently found to contain impurities such as Arsenic and other toxic and carcinogenic chemicals.
How to detect calcium carbide in fruits? ›
"Wash the fruit with 10ml of water and take 1ml of the wash and mix it with an equal volume of the solution in a glass test tube. If the solution changes colour, from red to purple, it indicates that calcium carbide was used to 'ripen' the fruit.
How toxic is calcium carbide? ›
► Calcium Carbide can irritate the skin causing a rash, redness and burning feeling on contact. permanent damage (corneal opacities). exposures may cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), a medical emergency.
How can you tell if the banana is treated by calcium carbide? ›
Naturally ripened bananas usually have black or brown spots. They are generally have black stalks, not green and they taste sweet. Also, those ripened with calcium carbide are soft and have sensible peel/skin colour however, poor in taste. They even have a shorter shelf-life.
Calcium carbide reacts with water to produce a gas which is used for ripening of fruits like bananas. The gas is a hydrocarbon containing a triple bond in it. The general molecular formula of the hom*ologous series to which the gas belongs is : Q.
What is an alternative to calcium carbide? ›
Safer alternative for ripening
FSSAI permits the use of ethylene gas as a safer alternative for fruit ripening. Ethylene gas is a natural hormone that regulates ripening. It triggers the natural ripening process until the fruit produces ethylene in substantial quantities.
Is calcium carbide a cancerous substance? ›
A strong reactive chemical, Calcium Carbide has carcinogenic properties and is used in gas welding.
What are the safety precautions for calcium carbide? ›
- 7.1. Precautions for safe handling.
- Provision of sufficient ventilation. Avoid dust formation. ...
- Removal of dust deposits. Advice on general occupational hygiene.
- 7.2. ...
- Store in a dry place. ...
- Observe hints for combined storage. ...
- Keep container tightly closed and in a well-ventilated place. ...
- Consideration of other advice:
"Calcium carbide, commonly used for ripening fruits like mangoes, releases acetylene gas, which contains harmful traces of arsenic and phosphorus.
