Dry stem identifies chemicals in seasonal fruits: Experts

Harmful calcium carbide was being administered alongside ethephon in summer fruits for overnight ripening

People should refrain from chemically contaminated summer fruits especially mango which could be identified through their dry stems, experts have suggested, reports BSS from Rajshahi. They feared toxicity in fruits caused deaths to many children in the region. “Whenever you see the stalk (stem) of mango or other such summer fruit is dry, be confirmed it is contaminated with chemicals,” Dr Shafiqul Islam, Chief Scientific Officer of Regional Mango Research Centre of Chapainawabganj, said.
He said extremely harmful calcium carbide was being administered alongside ethephon in summer fruits for overnight ripening with attractive colours while formalin was used to preserve them.
Mango is the leading seasonal cash crop of the country’s northwest region and dominates the economy in the two districts famous for the delicious fruit.
“Mangoes mixed with deadly chemicals such as carbide are extremely hazardous for human health.
The chemical has a long-term effect on human body,” Dr Islam said. Officials of the institute said only 100 gram of calcium carbide can ripen nearly 100 kg of mangoes while the chemicals could cause deadly diseases like cancer, kidney and liver complications.
The greedy traders and others concerned were frequently found contaminating mangoes and litchis with various harmful chemicals in two phases. He said off-season fruits are generally treated with this chemical.
“The traders are found to be using three types of chemicals at different phases at traders’ level,” said Dr Alim Uddin, Principal Scientific Officer of Rajshahi Fruit Research Center.
He suggested for launching more campaign to stop the indiscriminate use of chemicals to rip and preserve the fruits for extra profit, besides staging mobile courts as punitive actions.
Importance should be given on build awareness among common people as well as mango growers and traders about the negative impacts of using chemicals.
About the use of chemicals on mangoes Dr Alim said conducting vigorous drives against the chemical and its use on mangoes and other summer fruits can be a short-term solution to the problem. “But long term solution is building awareness among producers and traders,” he added.
He urged the growers and traders to give utmost emphasis on safe harvesting, handling and marketing of mango for food safety and attaining confidence of the consumers in this regard as hygienic preservation and consumption of fruits is very important for public health.
Motiur Rahman, a seasonal mango trader at Rajshahi Shaheb Bazar, told BSS that they were not aware about the exact quantum of ‘permissible chemicals’ like ethephon for ripening fruits and its impact on public health.
“We are using calcium carbide as it ripens mangoes fast and adds attractive colour to the fruits,” another mango trader told the news agency.

 

Dry stem identifies chemicals in seasonal fruits: Experts

Harmful calcium carbide was being administered alongside ethephon in summer fruits for overnight ripening

People should refrain from chemically contaminated summer fruits especially mango which could be identified through their dry stems, experts have suggested, reports BSS from Rajshahi. They feared toxicity in fruits caused deaths to many children in the region. Whenever you see the stalk (stem) of mango or other such summer fruit is dry, be confirmed it is contaminated with chemicals, Dr Shafiqul Islam, Chief Scientific Officer of Regional Mango Research Centre of Chapainawabganj, said. He said extremely harmful calcium carbide was being administered alongside ethephon in summer fruits for overnight ripening with attractive colours while formalin was used to preserve them. Mango is the leading seasonal cash crop of the countrys northwest region and dominates the economy in the two districts famous for the delicious fruit. Mangoes mixed with deadly chemicals such as carbide are extremely hazardous for human health. The chemical has a long-term effect on human body, Dr Islam said. Officials of the institute said only 100 gram of calcium carbide can ripen nearly 100 kg of mangoes while the chemicals could cause deadly diseases like cancer, kidney and liver complications. The greedy traders and others concerned were frequently found contaminating mangoes and litchis with various harmful chemicals in two phases. He said off-season fruits are generally treated with this chemical. The traders are found to be using three types of chemicals at different phases at traders level, said Dr Alim Uddin, Principal Scientific Officer of Rajshahi Fruit Research Center. He suggested for launching more campaign to stop the indiscriminate use of chemicals to rip and preserve the fruits for extra profit, besides staging mobile courts as punitive actions. Importance should be given on build awareness among common people as well as mango growers and traders about the negative impacts of using chemicals. About the use of chemicals on mangoes Dr Alim said conducting vigorous drives against the chemical and its use on mangoes and other summer fruits can be a short-term solution to the problem. But long term solution is building awareness among producers and traders, he added. He urged the growers and traders to give utmost emphasis on safe harvesting, handling and marketing of mango for food safety and attaining confidence of the consumers in this regard as hygienic preservation and consumption of fruits is very important for public health. Motiur Rahman, a seasonal mango trader at Rajshahi Shaheb Bazar, told BSS that they were not aware about the exact quantum of permissible chemicals like ethephon for ripening fruits and its impact on public health. We are using calcium carbide as it ripens mangoes fast and adds attractive colour to the fruits, another mango trader told the news agency.