Ripe mangoes have started to reach the market, but there is no guarantee that they ripened on the tree rather than artificially. Tree-ripened mangoes are good, but eating artificially ripened mangoes can even lead to cancer.

Mangoes are ripened artificially with a chemical called calcium carbide, which is a carcinogen (a cancer-causing substance). Every fruit has a set time to ripen, and dishonest traders use chemicals to ripen fruit before then in the hope of selling at a higher profit.

Ethanol is the main fruit-ripening chemical. Farmers do pick fruit before it ripens, for safe transport and storage. Fruit sellers buy fruit unripe and store it for a set time, and during this period many traders ripen it with chemicals. Mangoes are ripened early in the same way.

Mangoes ripened with formalin often look more attractive than genuinely ripe ones, and most people buy the attractive ones. But with a little thought you can tell artificially ripened mangoes from naturally ripe ones. Here is how.

Artificially ripened mangoes have green patches on the skin that stand out clearly from the yellow. Naturally ripened mangoes have an even mix of yellow and green. Artificially ripened mangoes are also a brighter yellow than naturally ripened ones.

Eating an artificially ripened mango causes a mild burning sensation in the mouth. Such mangoes can cause serious reactions such as stomach ache, diarrhoea and even a burning throat.

When you cut a naturally ripened mango, the pulp is a bright reddish-yellow. In an artificially ripened mango it is light or deep yellow. This colour shows the fruit has not fully ripened: it looks ripe from outside but is unripe inside.

Naturally ripened mangoes are very juicy and sweet, while artificially ripened ones have less of both. According to experts, naturally ripened mangoes are easy to find at the height of the season when ripe mangoes are plentiful, so fruit should be eaten in its own season.

According to Dr Nandita Shah, founder of SHARAN India, eating mangoes ripened with chemicals and pesticides raises the risk of various diseases. These chemicals increase hormonal disorders such as hypothyroidism, PCOS and diabetes, and even raise the risk of Parkinson's and cancer.

Asked whether washing properly or removing the skin gets rid of the chemicals, Dr Shah said any fruit should be soaked in water for about an hour after buying and then washed well. Mangoes must be peeled before eating. If you feel a burning in your mouth while eating a mango, do not eat it, and always eat mangoes in the right season.

Citing Healthsite.com.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.