Buyers avoid artificially ripened fruits

Gang using ethylene powder on mangoes busted

It is the mango season again, and many consumers are taken in by rogue traders who artifically ripen fruits. Over the years, though, some consumers have become vigilant to this form of cheating by traders.

“We always have a doubt when buying mangoes if they have been artificially ripened. At times, we find some white patches on mangoes and it is only when we eat the fruit do we realise they are artificially ripened,” said said B.T. Srinivasan of Malkajgiri.

He said the mangoes directly sold by are naturally ripened, though they cost slightly more.

“I avoid buying ripe fruits. We purchase raw fruits from the farm and ripen them naturally at home,” said S. Srivasthava, employed in a private company.

While these informed consumers take care, most buyers end up buying artifically ripened fruit. To this end, the North Zone Task Force busted a gang which was using ethylene powder to artificially ripen mangoes, papayas, bananas and other fruits on Friday. The accused have been booked for endangering life or personal safety of others, and adulteration.

The police seized 3,392 ethylene packets, each containing 100 pouches, imported from China, worth `7 lakh. The police raided various places and arrested fruit sellers Dasari Venkatesh and Imtyaz Ali (West Marredpally), Amith Agarwal (Kothapet fruit market) and Isaac (Ramgopalpet).

North Zone Task Force inspector K. Nageswar Rao said each sachet is sold for `3. Kept among fruits, it releases ethylene gas which changes the texture and colour and makes the fruit appear ripe.

The use of calcium carbide for artificial ripening has been banned by the Centre. This resulted in some traders using ethylene powder for the purpose. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has warned against the direct use of ethylene powder and calcium carbide to ripen fruits and vegetables.