Keep in mind that juicy mangoes can cause serious harm to health if they are ripened with harmful chemicals like calcium carbide. FSSAI has strictly banned such wrong methods of ripening mangoes. These chemicals can pose a serious threat to health.
Remember that your mangoes should be naturally ripened or ripened as per FSSAI guidelines. If someone is ripening mangoes using such wrong methods, then understand that he/she is playing with your health.
What is calcium carbide?
Calcium carbide, also known as limestone, is a chemical compound with the formula CaC2. It is a black solid that releases acetylene gas (C2H2) when dissolved in water. Acetylene gas is flammable and is used in welding and metal cutting.
How to identify mangoes with chemicals
Why is calcium carbide used?
Ripening fruits: Some people use calcium carbide to ripen fruits quickly. This method is dangerous and illegal because it can make the fruit poisonous.
What are the disadvantages of calcium carbide?
Breathing calcium carbide dust can cause coughing, chest pain, and shortness of breath. In severe cases, it can lead to respiratory failure and even death. Calcium carbide can burn the skin and eyes. Some studies have found a link between exposure to calcium carbide and an increased risk of lung cancer.
Stomach and intestine problems
Residues of arsenic and phosphorus hydride from calcium carbide can cause stomach and intestine problems, causing abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
risk of cancer too
The use of calcium carbide to ripen fruits quickly is very dangerous. It can cause many diseases, including cancer and skin problems. Due to the use of calcium carbide, elements like arsenic and phosphorus remain in the fruits. These elements keep accumulating in the body and increase the risk of serious diseases like cancer.
How to identify fruits ripened with calcium carbide?
The problem is that sometimes it is difficult to find out by looking at the fruits whether they have been ripened with calcium carbide or not. There are some easy ways with the help of which you can identify such fruits:
- Uniform colour: Fruits ripened with calcium carbide have a very uniform colour. The entire fruit has a uniform, unnatural colour.
- Abnormal shine: These fruits often have an unnatural shine or greasiness.
- Lack of aroma: Naturally ripened fruits have a characteristic aroma which is missing in fruits ripened with calcium carbide.
- Strange taste or odor: Fruits ripened with calcium carbide may have a strange taste or odor, different from naturally ripened fruits.
- Hardness: The hardness of fruits ripened with calcium carbide may also differ from naturally ripened fruits. These fruits may feel softer or wet when pressed.
Residue: Sometimes, if you look closely at fruits ripened with calcium carbide, you may see a slight residue on the peel.
How to identify mangoes ripened with calcium carbide
According to a TOI report, a team of researchers from the Department of Food Science and Technology, Pondicherry University, has found an easy way to identify calcium carbide used in ripening fruits. In this method, they have prepared a special solution (made of bio-functionalized gold nanoparticles). When this solution is mixed with water used to wash fruits, the color of the solution changes if calcium carbide has been used in ripening the fruit.
- Wash the fruit with 10 ml of water
- Then take 1 ml of washing water and put it in a glass test tube
- Mix the same amount of this special solution in it
- If the color of the solution changes from red to purple, calcium carbide was used to ripen the fruit.
- The cost of this test is less than 20 paise
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It cannot in any way be a substitute for any medicine or treatment. Always consult your doctor for more information.
