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With the mango season in full swing, the Telangana Food Safety Department launched an awareness drive on Monday (April 21, 2025). The initiative encourages farmers, traders, and consumers to adopt safe methods for ripening fruits. Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha unveiled the awareness poster and cautioned the public against using Calcium Carbide—a banned chemical often used for artificial ripening. He stressed that such practices pose serious health risks and are strictly prohibited under the Food Safety and Standards Act. The department recommends Ethephon (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid) as a safer, approved substance for controlled fruit ripening.

Ethephon: A Safer Alternative

 According to the official guidelines, one 500 mg sachet of Ethephon is enough to ripen 10 kilograms of fruit. Farmers commonly use Ethephon as a plant growth regulator. It helps fruits ripen faster, promotes flowering, and allows easier harvesting by making leaves and fruits drop naturally.

How to Use Ethephon Safely

To ensure effective and safe ripening, users should:

• Soak the Ethephon sachet in water.

• Place the soaked sachet in a small plastic container, like a soap box.

• Keep this container inside an airtight fruit box.

• Seal the box for 24 hours to complete the ripening process.

Report Unsafe Practices

The Food Safety Department urges the public to report any violations. People can call 9100105795 to lodge complaints.

Source: The Hindu