MANGO

RIPE AND WRONG

Can you tell the difference between an artificially ripened mango and a naturally ripe one? Here’s what you should know about the king of fruits before you bite into one
DILIP PATEL AND RUTURAJ JADAV


Tempted by the golden yellow mangoes at the fruit vendor’s shop? Stop before you reach for them as dangerous chemicals could be the secret behind their good looks. The AMC’s health department has raided over 30 shops in the past month and found vendors using calcium carbide to ripen mangoes.
If you want to check if a fruit is naturally ripe, check the three S: smell, sweetness and smear. Artificially ripened mangoes do not smell the same as naturally ripened mangoes. The flesh is sour near the centre. The mangoes ripened artificially usually have traces of powder on the skin.
An artificially ripened mango has a yellow outer skin but the tissue inside would not be ripe. If the fruit is uniformly well coloured, or if black blotches appear on the skin in two or three days, you could suspect chemical ripening.
The use of calcium carbide, available in the form of a white powder, is banned under the FDA Act as an agent for artificial ripening of fruit as it entails health hazards affecting nerves, eyes, skin and lungs. Calcium carbide stones are powdered and placed in paper pouches in the basket or as a stone in mango godowns.
FRUIT-FUL RAIDS
THE STATE food and drug department carried out three raids in Porbandar, Ahmedabad and Bhavangar.
Food and Drugs Commissioner H G Kosia said, “Since calcium carbide cannot be detected once the fruit is exposed to the weather, we have asked our officials to seize fruits still in their boxes. The boxes usually contain packets of calcium carbide.”
AMC ON GUARD
THE AMC too, has formed a striking team of nine officials that move around the city to catch offenders who sell artificially ripened mangoes to make a quick buck. The team carried out raids in Ambawadi and Manekbaug and is keeping a watch on vendors at the Kalupur and Naroda fruit markets.
Medical Health Officer Dr S P Kulkarni said, “So far, more than 3,000 kg of artificially ripened mangoes and 40 kg of calcium carbide have been seized in the city.”
According to the Food Adulteration Act, violators are liable to undergo a six-month imprisonment and pay fine of Rs 1,000. The team has registered cases against four vendors and collected Rs 50,000 as administrative charges from offenders.

RIPEN FRUITS AT HOME

FORMER VICE-CHANCELLOR of Junagadh Agriculture University K B Kikani said, “The artificially ripened kesar will be completely golden and its stalk will be swollen.”
A S Soni, public analyst at municipal public health laboratory, said, “Calcium carbide ripens mangoes in four days, whereas the natural process takes about a fortnight. It is always better to buy unripe mangoes and ripen them at home naturally. Wash the fruits thoroughly before consuming. Keep them under running water for a few minutes to wash away chemicals.” While eating mangoes and apples, cut the fruit into pieces, rather than consuming directly.
Other than mangoes and bananas, vendors artificially ripen chickoo, apples, papayas, guavas, pears and plums, too.

WHY IS CALCIUM CARBIDE DANGEROUS?



1

Calcium carbide is commonly used for welding purposes. On coming in contact with water, it produces acetylene, which acts as a catalyst in the ripening process.

2

The industrial grade of the chemical, which is freely available, contains arsenic and phosphorous. Large doses of calcium carbide can cause headache, dizziness and even cerebral oedema in the long run.

KNOW YOUR MANGO



1

Mangoes should be consumed during season which is May. Earlier than that, there is a chance that the mangoes are artificially ripened

2

Artificially ripened mangoes look smooth and polished. Organic mangoes are wrinkled

3

In artificially ripened mangoes the flesh close to the seed is sour.Whereas in naturally ripened ones, the sweetness is uniform

4

Mangoes have a trace of powder on its skin

5

Artificially ripened mangoes do not smell the same as naturally ripened mangoes