Friday, June 25, 2010

Artificially-ripened mangoes, calcium carbide, wax on apples

Below links talk about artificial-ripening being used for mangoes in Mumbai, Chennai...In fact, these types of practices seem to be in use for other vegetables and fruits also..
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Carbide-colour-wax-Poison-on-the-plate/articleshow/5785824.cms
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Artificially-ripened-mangoes-calcium-carbide-seized/articleshow/4562002.cms
Exceprt - FDA authorities said consumers should keep apples, jamuns, pears in warm water for five minutes so that the wax is washed off.
Wax, we can probably take care of, by doing the above..
To detect mangoes that are artificially-ripened :- From http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/health/illegal-chemical-ripening-method-imperils-indias-mango-trade_10055485.html
Though it is not easy to distinguish between the normal and the artificially ripened fruit, this can be done, Krishna said.

“The chemically altered mangoes have a subtle but bad smell and dark patches on their skin because of the calcium carbide heat. The organically produced and ripened mangoes look very ordinary, while the artificially ripened ones look more inviting,” Krishna added.

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