GUWAHATI: A team of Food Safety Officer Kamrup (M) District, during a drive conducted in Adabari seized chemically treated mangoes at Adabari, on Wednesday morning.
It was found that the mangoes were treated with Carbide, a fruit ripening harsh chemical, which helps the fruits ripen in 24 hours.
Consumption of Carbide treated fruits can often lead to health hazards like stomach pain, skin diseases and even cancer.
What happens when fruits are treated with carbide:
• Fruits that are artificially ripened with carbide tend to be softer to simulate appearance and feel of naturally ripened fruits. However, as is expected from chemically treated edibles, they taste inferior and have a disappointing flavour.
• Because the chemical is used to provide a cosmetic lift, it only makes the fruit appear ripe from the outside while the inside still remains green or raw.
• Fruits that are extremely raw need to be given a higher dosage of calcium carbide and this can make the fruit even more tasteless, and sometimes, toxic.
Earlier, this week Food Safety Officer Kamrup (M) District seized and destroyed 12.5 quintals of mangoes at Fancy Bazaar.
