Current Context : The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has alerted traders, fruit handlers and Food Business Operators (FBOs) to strictly ensure compliance with the prohibition on calcium carbide for artificial ripening of fruits.

ABOUT CALCIUM CARBIDE :

• Calcium carbide is commonly used for ripening fruits like mangoes.
• It releases acetylene gas, which contains harmful traces of arsenic and phosphorus.
• These substances are also known as ‘masala’.
• It cause serious health issues such as dizziness, frequent thirst, irritation, weakness, difficulty in swallowing, vomiting, skin ulcers, etc.
• Use of calcium carbide for ripening fruits has been banned under Regulation 2.3.5 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011.