Why FSSAI prohibits Use of Calcium Carbide as a Ripening Agent?

ATM News Network: Ripening of fruits is an essential process that makes them edible and nutritious. Fruits like mangoes, bananas, and papayas are transported unripe to avoid losses and artificially ripened at the destination market before sale. However, the use of harmful chemicals like calcium carbide as a ripening agent has been a cause of concern for many years.

Calcium carbide is a chemical compound that releases acetylene gas when it comes in contact with moisture. The gas, in turn, triggers the ripening process in unripe fruits. Although calcium carbide is an efficient and cheap ripening agent, it has been banned in India by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

FSSAI has prohibited the use of calcium carbide as a ripening agent due to the presence of harmful traces of arsenic and phosphorus. The consumption of fruits ripened with calcium carbide has been linked to several health problems, including dizziness, frequent thirst, irritation, and weakness, difficulty in swallowing, vomiting, and skin ulcers. Acetylene gas released from calcium carbide is equally harmful to handlers, making it a significant health hazard for both consumers and workers.

To address this issue, FSSAI has recognised ethylene as a safe ripening agent at a concentration of up to 100 ppm depending on the crop, variety, and maturity. Treatment of unripe fruits with ethylene gas triggers the ripening process until the fruit itself starts producing ethylene in large quantities.

The use of ethylene gas is a safe and effective alternative to calcium carbide for the ripening of fruits. It is not only safer for human consumption but also leaves no harmful residues on the fruits. Moreover, ethylene gas is a natural plant hormone that triggers the ripening process in a way that mimics the natural process.

In conclusion, the use of calcium carbide as a ripening agent has been banned in India due to its harmful effects on human health. FSSAI has recognised ethylene gas as a safe and effective alternative for the artificial ripening of fruits. The switch to natural and safe ripening methods like ethylene gas will ensure the availability of safe and nutritious fruits for consumers while also safeguarding the health of workers in the fruit industry.