Chemically ripened fruits
According to media reports despite prohibition against the sale of mangoes before maturity, a section of unscrupulous traders have flooded the markets with what is called ripened mangoes. Such green mangoes are ripened by using various chemicals like ethophane and calcium carbide, posing serious health hazards.
Frequent use of chemicals for artificial ripening of fruits in the country appears to be going unnoticed with health experts raising serious concerns about the safety of public health. Artificial ripening is most prevalent during the beginning of a fruit season, when the demand is high, driving prices up. Given that the sector is unorganised, there are fewer food inspectors doing checks, so many harvests go unexamined. It is well known that whenever we interfere in the process of nature we face the consequences. The world has been moving towards organic farming but unscrupulous traders here are still depending on artificial ways of ripening fruits which is affecting cells in the body adversely. Moreover, the health hazards are transferred to the next generations. Chemicals affect the mental growth of children and also reach the blood. Incidentally the use of calcium carbide has been stopped in developed countries and even completely banned in India.
Overuse of pesticides and harmful chemicals in fruits has caused negative impact on human health, and such unchecked practice has also led to degradation of soil fertility. Mango and other fruits have been found to have contained high amount of pesticides and other harmful chemicals.
Chemicals also stop metabolism of calcium in the body and cause osteoporosis in which bones become weak and are more likely to break, especially in women. Fruits are antioxidants but chemicals reduce the process of oxidation. Even hormones, such as oxytocin, are injected in fruits which are causing hormonal imbalances. One of the best ways to discourage overuse of pesticides, harmful chemicals and chemical fertilisers is educating the farmers about their negative impact on human health and local environment. The farmers need to be made aware of the fact that it is they who will be the first victims of such pesticides and chemicals and that fertility of their land will also degrade in the long-run.
It is the duty of the authorities to stop sale of unhealthy eatables. People need healthy diet to create a healthy generation. They must keep vigilance over the fruit sellers using such harmful chemicals. The local administrations need to strengthen their monitoring system to stop such illegal activities before marketing chemically ripened fruits like mangoes.
