FSSAI bans artificial ripening of fruits with calcium carbide due to health concerns (2024)

FAQs

FSSAI bans artificial ripening of fruits with calcium carbide due to health concerns? ›

The health effects of calcium carbide are also comparable to those of other banned pesticides, such as arsenic and phosphorus. Due to these concerns, the FSSAI has decided to prohibit the use of calcium carbide for the artificial ripening of fruits.

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.

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.

Respiratory problems: Inhaling the acetylene gas produced during the ripening process can cause respiratory irritation, coughing, and shortness of breath. Skin irritation: Direct contact with calcium carbide residues on the fruit's surface can cause skin irritation, rashes, and allergic reactions in some individuals.

► 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.

Bananas that are forced ripe with carbide are lemon yellow and their stalks are green and furthermore, they are clear yellow with no black spots. Artificially ripened bananas have traces of powdery substances and peel off quickly. Naturally ripened bananas usually have black or brown spots.

A strong reactive chemical, Calcium Carbide has carcinogenic properties and is used in gas welding.

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.

"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.

The use of calcium carbide for fruit ripening has therefore been banned under the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011.

Which fruits are in calcium carbide? ›

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.

Once dissolved in water, the carbide produces acetylene gas. Acetylene gas may affect the neurological system by inducing prolonged hypoxia. The findings are headache, dizziness, mood disturbances, sleepiness, mental confusion, memory loss, cerebral edema and seizures.

A commonly used agent in the ripening process is calcium carbide, a material most commonly used for welding purposes. Calcium carbide treatment of food is extremely hazardous because it contains traces of arsenic and phosphorous.

Calcium Carbide Effect On Eyes And Skin

If calcium carbide comes in contact with your eyes, it can cause severe irritation and burns with likely permanent damage. Calcium carbide also causes skin irritation, skin rashes, burning on contact, and redness.

There is no antidote available for calcium carbide poisoning. Area of contact must be washed generously with water.

The other names for calcium carbide are calcium acetylide, phenyl glyceryl ether diacetate and glycerol phenyl ether diacetate. In its pure form calcium carbide is a colorless crystalline solid and has a rock-like structure.

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.

"Calcium carbide, commonly used for ripening fruits like mangoes, releases acetylene gas, which contains harmful traces of arsenic and phosphorus.