FSSAI urges States to curb use of illegal fruit ripening agents

Calcium carbide is strictly prohibited for the artificial ripening of fruits under the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011

Hyderabad: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Tuesday has urged Commissioners of Food Safety of all States to intensify inspections and carry out special enforcement drives to curb the illegal use of non-permitted fruit ripening agents, as well as colouring and coating of fruits with synthetic colours or non-permitted wax.

It also asked officials to maintain strict vigilance over fruit markets and mandis, to curb illegal use of fruit ripening using agents like calcium carbide, commonly known as ‘masala’.

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As part of the enforcement drive, inspection of godowns and storage facilities, particularly those suspected of using substances like calcium carbide for ripening should be carried out. The presence of calcium carbide on the premises or stored alongside crates of fruits will be treated as circumstantial evidence against the Food Business Operator (FBO), potentially leading to prosecution under the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act 2006, FSSAI in the letter said.

Calcium carbide is strictly prohibited for the artificial ripening of fruits under the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011. The use of this substance poses serious health risks and is known to cause mouth ulcers, gastric irritation and has carcinogenic properties.

FSSAI also identified cases where FBOs are using ethephon solution to artificially ripen bananas and other fruits by dipping them directly into the chemical and issued a guidance document titled “Artificial Ripening of Fruits Ethylene Gas: A Safe Fruit Ripener”, available on its website (https://www.fssai.gov.in).