Artificial Ripening of Fruits by Chemicals Like Ethephon
We take fruits and vegetables as every nutritionist worth her salt will tell you that they boost our immune system, are good as antioxidants and have anti-ageing properties. But what happens if fruits and vegetables have chemicals in them? Can we say the same thing? What do we have to say about the artificial ripening of fruits?
In current times, there is much anxiety about artificial ripening of fruits. Though fruits like mango naturally ripen in trees; some chemicals can be used to artificially ripen them which quicken the ripening process. Ripe fruits are not appropriate to carry and supply as they get spoilt quickly. So traders pick unripe fruits and then use artificial methods to increase their shelf lives.
For many years, ethylene had been used as a fruit ripening agent, but nowadays artificial ripening of fruits are done by ethane, calcium carbide and ethephon. Needless to say, incorrect use of these chemicals to ripen fruits is associated with many health hazards. Ripening is a process in fruits that causes them to become edible. In countries like the US, the ripening is done through gas emission systems or ethylene generator systems, depending on quality and shelf life desired.
Ill-effects of artificial ripening
- Ethylene is known to cause damage to the neurological system, affects the eyes, skin, lungs, memory and leads to prolonged hypoxia (lack of oxygen supply).
- Ethephon is a plant growth regulator. It promotes pre-harvest ripening in apples, currants, blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, morello cherries, citrus fruit, figs, tomatoes, sugar beet and fodder beet seed crops, coffee, capsicum. Ethephon is easily converted into ethylene and has the same harmful effects. Though State Food and Drugs Control Administration (FDCA) banned the use of ethephon last year in India, fruit traders have now resorted to bethylene.
- Bethylene is not known to have any damaging effects but it changes the taste and the nutritional value of fruits and reduces the shelf life of the fruits, if used beyond the suggested limits. And most of the traders do use quantities of bethylene which are much higher than the prescribed limits.
- Besides ripening agents, farmers also utilize pesticides to grow fruits and vegetables which are harmful to our health.
Here is how you can take care of fruits and vegetables that are susceptible to be artificially ripened with hazardous chemicals:
- Wash your fruits and vegetables in a sink full of water in which a tablespoon of salt is added with a lime squeezed in it. Allow the fruits to float in the sink for five or seven minutes before rinsing them with plain water and then draining them in a colander. Allow to dry and then consume.
- While selecting fruits, look for punctures, nail marks, rupture or powdered applications on the fruits. Do not pick fruits with any of the above signs.
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Posted by Starwin on 19th April, 2010
Comments
Just saw a story on News 24 about use of ethephon fruthrone (not sure of second word) being used to ripe bananas. How effective is washing method prescribed by you ?