This is what you eat!

The use of chemicals to ripen raw fruits for quick sale is now on the increase. The Sunday Times today reveals how ethephon, an agro chemical is used for such a purpose.

Once sprayed into the fruit, ethephon converts into ethylene, a fruit-ripening chemical.

While ethylene is said to be invaluable due to its ability to initiate the ripening process in several fruits, it can also be harmful by accelerating the aging process and decreasing the product quality and shelf life. The degree of damage depends upon the concentration of ethylene, exposure time and product temperature.

Sunil Priyadarshana, a farmer said they pluck the raw fruits and spray high doses of ethylene or dip the fruit in a bucket full of chemical added to water to accelerate the ripening process.

"To sell fruits for commercial consumption ethylene is allowed only to trigger the natural ripening. But the fruits should be allowed to be kept in a storeroom with ethylene gas and sprayed in small quantities," Dr. K.H.Sarananda, Head of the Food Research Unit of the Agriculture Department said.

Dr.Sarananda said that despite recommendations to have a two-week chemical free environment before harvesting fruit, most farmers apply chemicals even a day before harvest.

Another farmer who grows vegetables for commercial purpose said that he frequently increased the dose of chemicals, but made sure the vegetable plot used for his household consumption was chemical-free.