Fruit ripening is a connatural mechanism that undergoes multichemical changes during the process involving peculiarly transformation of texture, color, odour, increased sweetening and decreased bitterness accompanying varied enzymatic reactions. Different fruits have different ripening stages. With the human interference in nature’s way and the mark of latest technology and methods this process is accelerated with the aid of fabricated mellowing agents which had its footmarks back numbered in Primeval Egyptian and Chinese civilizations.
Year 1901 marks the beginning of this practice by the Russian scientist, Dimitry Neljubow, he demonstrated how an aeriform plant development regulating substance locally called Ethylene upshot plant growth post detection it as chief constituent in fumes escaping from a gas source results in the surrounding floral ambiance to grow incongruously and so the course of action went on for commercial purposes/avoidance of just immature picked fruits from ageing during transport over distant reaches
Some of the varieties of inorganic materials used as chemicals in this procedure are
· Ethylene (ethene): Ethylene is known to cause damage to the neurological system, affects the eyes, skin, lungs, memory and leads to prolonged hypoxia (lack of oxygen supply).
· Ethephon (2 chloroethylphosphonic acid) is a plant growth regulator. It promotes pre-harvest ripening in apples, currants, blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, morello cherries, citrus fruit, figs, tomatoes, sugar beet and fodder beet seed crops, coffee, and capsicum. Ethephon is easily converted into ethylene and has the same harmful effects.
· Bethylene (methylene blue) is not known to have any harmful effects but it alters the taste and the nutritional value of fruits and also the shelf life of the fruits, if used beyond the recommended limits. And most of the traders do use quantities of bethylene which are much higher than the prescribed limits.
· Calcium carbide is highly carcinogenic and used in gas welding. It contains traces of arsenic and phosphorus hydride leading to multiple severe acute and chronic adverse health effects .onset Effects of arsenic and phosphorus poisoning causes poisoning including vomittting, diarrhoe with presence or absence of blood, burning sensation of pectoral region and abdomen, thirst,weakness, choking while swallowing, permanent damage of vision, skin ulcers, shortness of breath. Tending to consume unknowingly for prolonged period may cause fluid accumulation in lungs. Eating artificially grown mangoes causes gastric discomfort eroding mucosal tissues inhibiting intestinal function.
Recently FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority Of India) under the ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution has made accouterment of amercement for those people who stores /sells/distributes/imports/ calcium carbide because of its large scale hazards on human health and costing millions of lives. Yet in the broad day light many elements in our society go on doing the human business in exchange of corruption and many other biased personal matters. To redressal to the increasing ailing sector and concerned concerns strict laws controlling the utility of these poisonous substances should be enacted strongly. These steps could prohibit and prevent prevention of Food Adulteration. Rather there should be complete ban on the sale of such material substances; such as on the International level in United Kingdom.
UK Soil Assosiation only permits use of ethylene only for ripening of fruits in IFOAM (Indicative list of substances For Organic Production & Processing) while as in JK there is total reversal of it. We use ripening agents in form of injectables on mass scale in vegetables as growth hormones for the speedy growth, increased production and for our own greed of money making, neglecting what we sell? Are the edibles full of venom or not? Usually sold quite decently in open markets.
Here are some of point which we should consider as a remedy
· Wash your fruits and vegetables in a sink full of water in which a tablespoon of salt is added with a lime squeezed in it. Allow the fruits to float in the sink for five to seven minutes before rinsing them with plain water and then draining them in a colander. Allow to dry and then consume.
· While selecting fruits, look for nail marks, punctures or powdered applications on the fruits. Do not pick fruits with any of the above signs.
· Usual keep a close eye on non seasonal variety, sold on.
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