Artificial ripening of mangoes continues in district despite ill-effects

TRICHY: Despite strict measures taken by officials of the food safetywing and the Trichy Corporation to bring down the flooding of artificially-ripened mangoes into the markets, traders continue to deal with the practice to make a quick buck unmindful of the fines they have to pay, if caught.

During the two raids conducted this year, officials seized 21.15 tonnes of mangoes comprising many varieties. The team of food safety wing officials raided 50 shops in Gandhi Market areas on April 30 and found 2.25 tonnes of artificially-ripened mangoes in eight shops. The mangoes kept in 110 cases were valued at Rs 1.47 lakh. On May 20, a team led by district collector Jayashree Muralidharan seized about 18.9 tonnes of mangoes at six godowns in Mambalasalai in Srirangam.
Last year, officials had seized carbide stones which were used for ripening the mangoes. However, this time the traders, who are unwilling to abandon the practice were found using carbide powders instead of stones without any concern for the people's health.
Dr A Ramakrishnan, designated officer (DO), food safety wing, Trichy said that they are planning to conduct a meeting with the traders to advise them. "We have already advised the traders about the consequences of indulging in ripening the mangoes artificially. This year too, we would conduct a meeting with them. It is found that some seasonal traders are only indulging in this practice," said Ramakrishnan.
Though the officials have been advising and seizing the mangoes, they cannot be controlled. M Sekaran, president of federation of consumer and service organisation said, "There should be ajoint effort by the food safety wing, CHO and district supply officer to put an end to the menace. The district administration should crack the whip."
The government allowed using ethlin spray to ripen the mangoes. But they do not prefer to use it because they mangoes ripened by this can easily rotten leading to loss to the traders. However, the mangoes ripened using carbide stone will quickly ripen and last long.
Dr S Mariappan, city health officer (CHO) of Trichy Corporation advised the people to be careful in differentiating between natural and artificially-ripened mangoes.
"The artificially-ripened mangoes have no greenish patches. The black patches and wrinkles can be spotted. By confirming they are good mangoes, people can buy it. Otherwise, it would cause diahorrea, indigestion, gastric irritation," he said.

Mango season: Some farmers abide by natural process

TRICHY: While some people are indulging in ripening mangoes usingharmful chemicals, there are some farmers in the district who are engaging in the natural process. However, the drought due to no rain has hit them badly.

Mango cultivation has been on in around 1,000 acres in areas like Lalgudi, Pullambadi, Kollidam, Anbil, Srirangam and Melur, which supply the produce to the locals market and also other places. However, added to the drought indiscriminate sand mining in the Cauvery and Kollidam rivers have depleted the ground water level resulting in water scarcity for the mango trees.
K V Ganesan, a farmer in Koohoor village attributed the drought to thepoor yield of mangoes. "The mango yield is not favourable for thefarmers because the ground water level has depleted. Those who have wells and electric motors are able to save the trees. Rest of them are helpless. Besides the lack of rains, indiscriminate sand mining has also played spoilsport. It is a bad sign for mango cultivation which may gradually disappear from the area due to water scarcity," said Ganesan.
The poor yield resulted in the increase of the mango price manifold and delayed the season. This year, the size of mangoes is small. Nevertheless, some of the farmers still use natural method to ripen them. The paddy straws are utilized for the process. Normally, most of the mango fruittraders prefer to ripen the mangoes quickly using 'carbide stones' because they have no time to wait up to six days.
P Balasubramanian, a farm owner at Vadaseri in Karur who ripens the mango through naturalmethod said the health of the people is paramount than the income. "Farmers and traders must be concerned about the health of the people. Though there is a loss in natural method, the health of the people should not be put at risk," Balasubramanian said.
A Ramakrishnan, designated officer of the food safety wing in Trichy said that law does not permit them to certify the naturally-ripened mangoes. "There is no provision to certify the naturally-ripened mangoes. We are not sure whether we will be empowered to do so in future. If it is so, it would give a boost to the followers of the natural methods," Ramakrishan said.

FDA destroys 450kg of artificially ripened mangoes

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

FOR THE LOVE OF MANGOES

The king of fruits has taken the city by storm and thepeople are going gung-ho about this seasoned fruit. Despite priced a little high than last year; people are showing no qualms in enjoying the tasty, healthy and exotic mangoes.
Maavinhann bandidya? (Have the mangoes arrived?), is the most common question one asks or hears during the early days of April. The answer is yes! Theking of all fruits seems ubiquitous, so much so that it’s difficult to elude its sight over a stroll through the lanes of the city. And the sense of hoopla that it brings to life in an exquisitely subtle manner is a pleasant paradox. Alphonso, Rajpuri, Badami, Sakkargutti and many more varieties have already entered the market and the prices are expected to go down quickly in coming days. It is going to be maavinhannin kaala! (Season of mangoes)
Rajajinagar is distinguished for its rich cultural background, with several communities famous for their food, frolic and festivities, and with the mangoes added to the already extravagant platter, the fun can only get better. Pickles are already prepared in big jars in many of the households and the ripened fruits have been eagerly awaited. During April and May, the months known for auspicious dates according to the Hindu calendar, there will be a lot of festivals and marriages, and the king of fruits will undoubtedly be a major ingredient for the menu.
“The list of eateries that can be dished out of mango is ample. There is Amras, mangorice bath, mango chutney, seekarane (squashed mango), lassi, burfi, salads and so on. Now we also have mousses, biscuits, pastries, smoothie and other non traditional dishes as well,” says Madhuchandra, a caterer. He also stated that the customers prefer these dishes over the others for one, they are non perennial and two and they are special yet cheap.
“Mangoes taste so good that people forget they are also healthy!” says Bhattacharjee, a botanist. They prevent cancer, lower cholesterol, improve skin and eye sight, help in diabetes, improve digestion and sex, and also boost immune system”, he said. He also said that mangoes act as a remedy for heat stroke, a vital point considering the present scorching weather.
Amidst the buzz, one has to be careful not to buy artificially ripened fruits. Harmful chemicals like calcium carbide might be used for artificial ripening; about sixty percent of mangoes harvested early in the season are expected to be ripened by calcium carbide, an act liable for punishment under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Artificially ripened mangoes, unlike natural ones will not have a good aroma. Though they have a yellow outer skin, the tissue inside will not be ripe and will be dry and less juicy than the ripened ones. Fruits that have a uniform color are likely to have been artificially ripened. So it is important to wash the fruits before consuming by keeping them underrunning water so that the chemicals get washed away. It is also advisable to remove the peel before cutting the fruits into pieces. The best way to avoid artificially ripened mangoes is not to buy mangoes till the end April, which is when the actual mango season, kicks off. The entire world is nature’s catharsis and we are eagerly awaiting one of its masterstrokes.

Drive against adulteration made effective by JMC

Jammu, May 21
In the ongoing drive against the menace of adulteration in the commonly used food items, the team of Food Safety Officers along with other field staff under the supervision of Dr. Mohd. Saleem Khan Health Officer had lifted 07 samples of different food articles viz two samples of Suji, one of Mustard Oil, One of Refined Soyabean Oil, one of Turmeric Powder, one of Biscuits, & one of sugar lifted from ICDS Projects Roop Nagar & Gandhi Nagar Jammu and from Centers at Gandhi Nagar & Karan Nagar area and sent to the food analyst Jammu for detecting their standards of purity. Till date reports of five samples have been received from Food Analyst Jammu which shows that four samples i.e. Suji, Turmeric Powder, & Mustard Oil conforms to the standards and one sample of Refined Soyabean Oil (Golden Brand) bearing batch no.06 lifted from ICDS Project Gandhi Nagar Jammu has been reported as Substandard as per the report of Food Analyst Jammu. Reports of two samples i.e. Biscuits & Sugar are still awaited. Besides, 81(Eighty One) Tins of Refined Soyabean Oil (Golden Brand) bearing batch no. 06 have also been seized. The I/c Store of C.D.P.O. Office Gandhi Nagar Jammu, and the Manufacturer M/s Chenab Agro Chemical Ltd. Works, SICOP Industrial Estate Kathua were also intimated regarding the report of Food Analyst under rule. Further course of action will be initiated under FSS Act, 2006.Moreover the premises of M/s Jhelum Enterprises Amphalla Jammu who is the Supplier of Refined Soyabean Oil ( Golden Brand) was also inspected. The Municipal Veterinary Officer along with field staff on the directions of Commissioner, JMC conducted a drive as per the demand of residents of Barnai, Bantalab, Subash Nagar, Roop Nagar area. While checking meat shops, 10 KG of substandard/unstamped meat has been discarded on spot and fine to the tune of Rs. 3000/- has been realized from the defaulters. The drive will remain continue in near future against all the meat shopkeepers running in the market are strictly warned and directed to ensure the supply of good quality of meat to the Citizens of Jammu City.
JMC appeals to all the Shopkeepers/vendors especially those dealing with meat shops to maintain hygienic environment and make available quality products to the consumers.