Question : Artificial Ripening of Fruits and Vegetables

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) the number of cases of adulteration and usage of chemical compounds to artificially ripen fruits and vegetables which has come up during the last three years, State/UT-wise;

(b) whether such adulteration and usage of chemical compounds adversely affect the health of the people and causes kidney, liver and heart diseases and if so, the details thereof;

(c) the reaction of the Government thereto; and

(d) the details of campaigns launched by the Government in this regard?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)
(a): Artificial ripening of fruits by using acetylene gas, commonly known as carbide gas, is prohibited under sub-regulation 2.3.5 of Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction to Sales) Regulations, 2016. However, under proviso to said sub-regulation, ripening of fruits is allowed using ethylene gas at a concentration upto 100 ppm. As per the information received from States/UT Governments, the details of samples of fresh fruits and vegetables, analysed, found non- conforming and action taken during the last two years is at Annexure-I and Annexure-II. For the year 2015-16, consolidated data relating to all food products only is available, which is at Annexure-III.

(b): Calcium carbide used by unscrupulous traders to release acetylene gas for artificial ripening of fruits contains traces of arsenic and phosphorus which is harmful for humans and may cause dizziness, frequent thirst, irritation, weakness, difficulty in swallowing, vomiting, skin ulcer, etc. The use of this chemical for ripening of fruits is banned in India.

(c) & (d): The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has developed a Guidance Note No.04/2018 on "ARTIFICIAL RIPENING OF FRUITS – Ethylene gas- A safe fruit ripener” and shared through its website i.e. www.fssai.gov.in and social media handles. The purpose of this guidance note is to create awareness related to different aspects of artificial ripening of fruits among food business operators/traders, consumers and food safety officials. A social media campaign around artificial ripening of fruits was also run by FSSAI. The campaign focused on spreading information about prohibition on use of calcium carbide; tips for consumers and vendors; role of food safety officials etc. In association with the Department of Consumer Affairs, Govt. of India under a joint campaign under the aegis of “Jago Grahak Jago”, an advertisement on artificially ripened fruits was published in newspapers PAN India.