CARBIDE RIPENING DANGERS

India Food Safety: Massive raids in Ayodhya as FSSAI targets toxic ripening agents in fruit hubs

Mangoes, bananas, papayas under watch: FSSAI crackdown begins over illegal 'masala' use for ripening; What India’s top food regulator is warning

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has issued a fresh directive to states to intensify action against the illegal use of artificial fruit ripening agents, especially banning calcium carbide for fruits like mangoes, bananas, and papayas due to serious health risks. The authority reiterated that unsafe practices, including misuse of chemicals like ethephon, will face strict enforcement, with increased inspections across markets and storage facilities. FSSAI emphasised that only regulated use of ethylene gas is permitted, while warning that violations could lead to prosecution, signalling a strong nationwide crackdown to ensure safer fruits for consumers.

Perfect mangoes for the perfect Indian summer

Summer nostalgia for so many Indians is shot through with memories of shady orchards on hot days and a bucketful of mangoes.

Is your Alphonso safe to eat?

A media report quoted doctors warning about “dizziness, headache, skin burning, allergy, vomiting and diarrhoea, to name a few” which could result from eating mangoes ripened using chemicals.

There are more problems with bread than just carcinogenic elements; focus should be on quality of wheat

Factory-made bread, ‘untouched by human hands’ as ad campaigns promised, was a shining white sign of pure and healthy bread. But making bread white has never been easy.

Fear factor: A platter of scares accompanies the Indian food menu

A small amount of truth, a lot of exaggeration and disgusting details with no investigation of facts for instance, a recent viral mail on sabudana being 'nonveg' was way off the mark since tapioca roots are never left to rot in pits.