The Food and Drugs Administration recently intensified raids on artificial ripening of fruits across Goa, conducting approximately 80 inspections covering over 350 establishments. It is learnt that several tonnes of fruits which were ripened using dangerous chemicals were destroyed. Interestingly the Agriculture Department has reportedly initiated construction of fruit ripening chambers of 60-tonne daily capacity at the Mapusa market yard. This was necessary as fruits were not ripened scientifically and in a most unhygienic way in the city. The question that arises is if consumption of artificially ripened fruits can be harmful to health, why are the authorities indulging in it? It all depends on the chemical that is being used to carry out ripening of the fruits. It is learnt that ethylene gas of a certain concentration can be used for artificial ripening. Being a natural hormone ethylene does not pose any health hazard to consumers. Calcium carbide releases acetylene, which also hastens ripening but has health risks. Fruits that have been scientifically ripened in the ripening chambers need to have a small sticker on it so that the consumer is aware of it.
