The New Nation - Internet Edition

A MOBILE court the other day seized six hundred maunds of mangoes allegedly ripened with calcium carbide. Two mango traders were arrested and punished for their involvement in this. A section of traders resort to this type of activities harmful to public health in order to make quick profit. Ripening of bananas with chemical substance is an old practice. Pineapples and tomatoes are also artificially ripened. It is not unlikely that many other fruits are ripened and vegetables preserved with harmful chemical substances.

Mangoes and other varieties of fruit are important sources of nutrition for the common people. But the application of chemicals not only makes them poisonous, but also breaks down the organic composition of vitamins and other micronutrients. Such fruits and vegetables may cause serious harm to the human body. Chemicals have the potential to damage vital organs of the body. The poisons used in fruits and vegetables may even cause cancer. Mangoes ripened through the application of chemicals are easily detectable by observing their colour. Mangoes of the Fazli variety never look yellowish when they are ripe. But the new generation of people not aware of this feel attracted by the colour of the fruit and get deceived.

An unscrupulous and greedy section of traders do the practice and cause irreparable damage to human health. The guilty persons must be punished severely to prevent further spread of such a harmful practice. Some of them may not be aware of the harmful effects of chemicals and insecticides on the human body. They need to be made aware of the danger and imbued with sense of moral responsibility to the society. Mass awareness and social resistance are the most effective deterrents to such dangerous activities. Vigilance at the wholesale markets should be strengthened to stop the practice.