Ethylene gas can be used instead of carbide for coconut ripening: FSSAI approval

Considering the widespread use of banned calcium carbide, FSSAI has approved ethylene gas as a safer alternative for ripening fruits in India.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of india (FSSAI) has warned traders, fruit traders and food businesses to strictly adhere to the ban on artificial ripening of mangoes by calcium carbide.

Ripening of fruits like mango releases harmful acetylene gas containing calcium carbide, arsenic and phosphorus. This has banned the ripening of mangoes using it.

In this case, recently, 575 kg of mangoes ripened using ethylene sockets were seized from grocery stores in Coimbatore. The value of these is estimated to be around Rs.72 thousand.

FSSAI permits ethylene gas as a safer alternative for fruit ripening in india sgb

When calcium carbide is used to ripen fruits, there is a possibility of arsenic and phosphorus contamination in the fruits.

Acetylene gas is dangerous to those who handle it. FSSAI says it can cause serious health problems like dizziness, frequent thirst, irritability, weakness, difficulty in swallowing food, vomiting, skin lesions.

Considering the risks, the use of calcium carbide for ripening of fruits has been banned under Rule 2.3.5 of the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011.

Fruits ripened using carbide or acetylene gas are artificially ripened fruits and no person shall sell, possess or distribute them.

In this context, considering the widespread use of banned calcium carbide, FSSAI has approved ethylene gas as a safer alternative for fruit ripening in India. It also stipulates that ethylene gas may be used up to 100 ppm (100 μl/L).