Waking up to the dangers associated with the prevailing practice of artificial ripening of fruits, the ministry of health & family welfare has shot off letters to state authorities to raise their vigil against the use of carbide gas for ripening fruit.
The use of carbide gas for ripening fruit is prohibited under Rule 44 AA of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules 1955. In a circular to all state food (health) authorities, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has stressed the need to take legal action against violation of PFA Rules.
The circular also invited the attention of enforcement authorities in the states to the provisions that circumstantial evidence of the presence of calcium carbide in godowns ,wooden crates or premises kept together with fruit may be used as evidence before the courts to prove that artificial ripening has been used by the vendor. The FSSAI has also circulated a copy of the procedure for detection of acetylene in godown or treatment chamber for detection of artificial ripening of fruits.
Minister of state for health Dinesh Trivedi has asked officials to discuss the issue with states. Trivedi said the issue compromises the health of millions of consumers. The minister also felt traders, retailers and sometimes even growers, in order to ensure a regular supply of fruit, use various unscrupulous methods to artificially ripen fruit much before their due time. This is also a violation of Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules 1955. The implementation of Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 and Rules 1955 falls under the jurisdiction of states. The rampant practice of calcium carbide has led to the need of an alert by the Centre issued to states. This chemical has carcinogenic properties and is used in gas welding for steel goods. It can cause mouth ulcers, gastric irritation and even food poisoning.