Health hazards caused by artificial ripening agents for ripening fruits.
By DoctorDidi
@DoctorDidi (7018)
India
July 3, 2011 7:21am CST
If you go the market and be tempted by the shiny red apples and bright yellow mangoes which you may think as a veritable source of vitamins and minerals, you are then definitely living in a fool’s paradise. It is now high time to think again before buying such brilliant skin colour fruits because brilliant skin colour does lend a luscious look, but in reality such fruits may be dishing out poison instead of nutrients. No, I am not talking of the traces of harmful pesticides that remain on fruits even after they are harvested. Scientists are now pointing fingers at certain chemicals that traders use as artificial ripening agents. In our state of West Bengal, the unscrupulous traders use the chemical known as calcium carbide to artificially ripen fruits such as apples, bananas, mangoes, and papayas. Calcium carbide only changes the skin colour; inside the fruit remains raw. Moreover, it not only releases noxious gases like phosphene and carbon monoxide which causes environmental pollution but also breaks down the organic composition of vitamins and other micronutrients leading to great diminution in the nutritive value of such fruits. So, the government has ultimately waked up and it has recently been banned in our country, but unfortunately it is still now widely used for ripening fruits, putting the health of consumers at risk. So, still now we are left to the mercy of these unscrupulous traders.
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6 responses
@DoctorDidi (7018)
• India
3 Jul 11
It is no doubt a good technique but I think most of us cannot apply it properly.
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@preethaanju (3000)
• India
3 Jul 11
This is a very good topic for discussion. Now a days fruits are not allowed to ripen naturally thereby losing its flavour, taste and shelf life.Last year the government had banned the use of certain substances used for artificial ripening. But it seems to have had no affect on the greedy peopleright from the farmer to the middlemen who want to make a fast buck at the cost of human health. Its being years since i tasted a naturally ripened mango
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@DoctorDidi (7018)
• India
3 Jul 11
I think nobody living in urban areas has tasted a naturally ripened fruit for a long time and will never be able to taste so unless and until this state of affairs are restricted by the government or the traders themselves realize the health hazards and stop this malpractice.
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@celticeagle (166761)
• Boise, Idaho
4 Jul 11
I will have to start a dialogue with my friend at the fruit stand where I get alot of the fruit my family consumes. This is the first I have heard of this although it certainly doesn't surprise me. And for alot of the fruit I get at the grocery store this chemical doesn't work very well.
@myfb2009 (8296)
• Malaysia
4 Jul 11
I ever buy a few times by looking at the color of the fruit without smelling it because they are packed. When i bring home, i discovered that the fruit isn't ripe for eat yet. In fact, i need to wait for another few days time to get it ripe and ready for it. By that day onwards, i prefer to use back my parents technique of choosing fruit. That's by smelling and touching the fruit before we want to buy them.
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@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
4 Jul 11
Hi Doctordidi, actually I think eating meat is more risky than eating fruits containing ripening agents.
When animals eat food made from vegetables and fruits, they are taking in the ripening agents or other artificial growth agents.
The sad fact is that animals tend to accumulate the toxins in the body.
When we eat the meat, we are in fact taking in the concentrated amount of chemicals.
I think in many parts of the world, the locals eat more fruits with artificial agents than the foreigners.
Most farmers import their better products overseas, and keep the remaining for domestic market.
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@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
6 Jul 11
When I am buying fresh produce, I really prefer to buy the produce that is Kentucky proud. That means that the fruits and vegetables are grown locally and also that they are grown in a mostly organic way (but they are not always certified organic). In my experience, buying this produce tastes a lot better than what we are able to get at the supermarket. In addition to that, it is also supporting our local economy which I think is a great thing.
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