KOLHAPUR: The Kolhapur unit of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) destroyed 450 kg of mangoes worth Rs 42,000 ripened with carbide at the city-based Market Yard.
The action, according to FDA officials, was taken on May 5.
Assistant commissioner of the FDA's Kolhapur unit U S Vanjari told TOI, "The action was taken after we received complaints of carbide use in the alphonso mangoes at the city-based market yard. During the raid, we found small packets of carbide in the mango baskets."
The raid was conducted at Karadkar and Sons, from where the mangoes were seized and later destroyed.
According to Vanjari, carbide, which is a carcinogen, has been banned under the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006 and Food Safety and Standards Regulations (FSSR), 2011.
He added, "Last year too, we had collected five samples of which one had carbide. Stock worth Rs 29,000 had been destroyed then."
The official said more of such drives have been planned in the coming days and raids would be conducted soon.
Assistant secretary of fruit and vegetables of Kolhapur Market Yard, Kolhapur Vishwas Chaugule said "Some traders or even farmers put packets containing calcium carbide for maximum amount of artificial heat to quickly ripen the fruits."
Meanwhile, city-based doctors have warned residents against consuming such fruits.
A general physician said, "Not just mangoes, any fruit ripened using artificial methods causes health problems. Residents should refrain from eating such fruits. Carbide is a carcinogenic substance that has toxic effects on the body. Its long-term effects are not yet proved, but it is potentially very harmful."
Former president of the Kolhapur Medical Association Dr Jayan Watave told TOI, "The use of calcium carbide turns the outer skin of the fruit yellow or even saffron. However, the inner portion remains unripe. The fruit looks ideal for consumption but the sweetness is missing. Calcium carbide kills the sugary content as well as every other nutrient in the fruit before it is consumed."
Carbide menace
*Calcium carbide contains traces of arsenic and phosphorous, which are harmful to the body
*Even a small quantity consumed by humans may lead to the skin, kidneys, heart, liver and causes ulcer and gastric problems
*The use of calcium carbide turns the outer skin of the fruit yellow and even makes it saffron. But, the inner portion of the fruit remains unripe.
*The fruit looks ideal for consumption but the sweetness is missing. Carbide kills the sugary content and every other nutrient before the fruit goes into the human body
The action, according to FDA officials, was taken on May 5.
Assistant commissioner of the FDA's Kolhapur unit U S Vanjari told TOI, "The action was taken after we received complaints of carbide use in the alphonso mangoes at the city-based market yard. During the raid, we found small packets of carbide in the mango baskets."
The raid was conducted at Karadkar and Sons, from where the mangoes were seized and later destroyed.
According to Vanjari, carbide, which is a carcinogen, has been banned under the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006 and Food Safety and Standards Regulations (FSSR), 2011.
He added, "Last year too, we had collected five samples of which one had carbide. Stock worth Rs 29,000 had been destroyed then."
The official said more of such drives have been planned in the coming days and raids would be conducted soon.
Assistant secretary of fruit and vegetables of Kolhapur Market Yard, Kolhapur Vishwas Chaugule said "Some traders or even farmers put packets containing calcium carbide for maximum amount of artificial heat to quickly ripen the fruits."
Meanwhile, city-based doctors have warned residents against consuming such fruits.
A general physician said, "Not just mangoes, any fruit ripened using artificial methods causes health problems. Residents should refrain from eating such fruits. Carbide is a carcinogenic substance that has toxic effects on the body. Its long-term effects are not yet proved, but it is potentially very harmful."
Former president of the Kolhapur Medical Association Dr Jayan Watave told TOI, "The use of calcium carbide turns the outer skin of the fruit yellow or even saffron. However, the inner portion remains unripe. The fruit looks ideal for consumption but the sweetness is missing. Calcium carbide kills the sugary content as well as every other nutrient in the fruit before it is consumed."
Carbide menace
*Calcium carbide contains traces of arsenic and phosphorous, which are harmful to the body
*Even a small quantity consumed by humans may lead to the skin, kidneys, heart, liver and causes ulcer and gastric problems
*The use of calcium carbide turns the outer skin of the fruit yellow and even makes it saffron. But, the inner portion of the fruit remains unripe.
*The fruit looks ideal for consumption but the sweetness is missing. Carbide kills the sugary content and every other nutrient before the fruit goes into the human body
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