FSSAI asks States, UTs to intensify crackdown on using calcium carbide to ripen fruits

These inspections would also be carried out at storage facilities, wholesalers, and distributors, particularly where seasonal fruits are stored using calcium carbide. Special enforcement drives may be undertaken to curb the illegal use of calcium carbide or other non-permitted ripening agents, wax, and synthetic colours.

In a letter to Commissioners of Food Safety of States and Union Territories (UTs) and Regional Directors, FSSAI Executive Director (Compliance Strategy) Dr. Amit Sharma said the presence of calcium carbide on the premises or alongside fruit crates may be treated as circumstantial evidence for initiating prosecution against the Food Business Operator (FBO) under Section 59 read with Section 3(1)(zz)(iii) or Section 3(1)(zz)(vii) of the FSS Act, or other applicable provisions.

He said the use of calcium carbide is prohibited under provisions of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations-2011, for using as artificial ripening agent in fruits like mangoes, bananas, and papayas etc as it poses serious health risks such as difficulty in swallowing, vomiting, skin ulcer, etc.

It has come to notice that certain FBOs are engaging in the practice of dipping fruits in ethephon solution for artificial ripening of bananas and other fruits. The FSSAI’s “guidance note on artificial ripening of fruits ethylene gas – a safe fruit ripener strictly prohibits the direct contact of fruits and vegetables with ethylene either in powder or liquid form.

The officials carrying out enforcement drives may also use strip paper tests to detect the presence of acetylene in godowns or ripening chambers for the artificial ripening of fruits, Sharma said.