Potentash
  • Relationships
    • The Singlehood Series
    • Dating
    • Sex
    • Parenting
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Food + Beverage
    • Fashion
    • Interviews
  • Stories
    • The Singlehood Series
    • Fiction
    • Poetry
  • Skin + Beauty
    • Skin
      • Skincare
    • Hair
      • Haircare
  • Wellness
    • Physical Health
    • Emotional Wellness
    • Mental Wellness
    • Social Wellness
    • Spiritual Wellness
  • Business
    • Business Finance
    • Personal Finance
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Investments
    • Personal Investments
  • Entertainment
    • Internet
    • Events
    • Music
    • Books
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
Potentash
  • Relationships
    • The Singlehood Series
    • Dating
    • Sex
    • Parenting
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Food + Beverage
    • Fashion
    • Interviews
  • Stories
    • The Singlehood Series
    • Fiction
    • Poetry
  • Skin + Beauty
    • Skin
      • Skincare
    • Hair
      • Haircare
  • Wellness
    • Physical Health
    • Emotional Wellness
    • Mental Wellness
    • Social Wellness
    • Spiritual Wellness
  • Business
    • Business Finance
    • Personal Finance
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Investments
    • Personal Investments
  • Entertainment
    • Internet
    • Events
    • Music
    • Books
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
Potentash
No Result
View All Result
Phone Reviews: Huawei Y7 Prime 2019

smart

Health: How To Detect & Avoid Chemically Ripened Fruits

Lynda Chalker by Lynda Chalker
20 July 2019
in Food
Reading Time: 3 mins read
50 1
0
61
SHARES
338
VIEWS
FacebookTwitterWhatsApp

When it comes to chemically ripened fruits almost everyone can relate to this. You buy ripe pawpaw, mango, apple or banana, only to eat it and then wonder why the taste doesn’t match its state. What you may not know is that the bitterness/sourness is attributed to a chemical treatment using calcium carbide. It hastens the ripening process at the expense of the maturity of the fruit. Since the fruit sugars do not get to reach the maturation process – as they would naturally – the taste remains bitter as that of raw fruits.

Image from https://www.technologytimes.pk/toxic-effects-of-calcium-carbide-as-fruit-ripening-agent/

Calcium carbide is a chemical compound with numerous industrial applications. It is also a popular agent in the food industry,  commonly used to hasten the ripening of fruits. However, this compound is extremely hazardous to human consumption due to traces of phosphorus and arsenic. When dissolved in water, it produces acetylene gas, which can affect the neurological system inducing prolonged hypoxia. Other implications include headaches, dizziness, mental confusion, sleepiness, cerebral oedema and seizures.

The hazards of consuming fruits ripened using the chemical range from gastric irritation, skin rashes, and food poisoning, to mouth ulcers, and diarrhoea. Since the compound also exhibits carcinogenic properties it has the potential to cause cancer. The chemical also posits a danger to pregnant mothers. If consumed it can lead to miscarriages or developmental abnormalities in the unborn child.

Free radicals from carbide play a major role in the ageing process as well as in the onset of cancer, heart disease, stroke, arthritis and perhaps allergies.

In a report published by the Star, a test done on samples taken from leading supermarkets across Nairobi and Mombasa showed the presence of calcium carbide. Other businesses using the chemical include wholesale traders in Gikomba and Marikiti in Nairobi and Kongowea respectively.

Image from https://www.technologytimes.pk/toxic-effects-of-calcium-carbide-as-fruit-ripening-agent/

How to detect chemically treated fruits

Right off the bat, it might be difficult to detect chemically treated fruits, although there are a few indicators.

The fruits may lack a uniform colour with alternating green and yellow patches. Others appear wrinkled with black botches yet they’re not overripe. There’s a difference in the aroma as compared to a naturally ripened fruit. The flavour and texture are also different since the fruit has not attained the optimum ripening quality through a natural process.

Another way you can try to detect calcium carbide is by placing the fruit in a bucket/bowl of water. This is assuming that the ripened fruits could’ve been prematurely plucked. If the fruit sinks, then it is mature. Although this doesn’t necessarily signify that the chemical wasn’t used to ripen it. However, if it floats it indicates the fruit was prematurely plucked, which means that if the fruit is ripe (soft), it is contrary to its natural state signifying that it has been chemically treated.

How to avoid chemically treated fruits

There is no propagated way to avoid chemically treated fruits or foods. However, you can try outsourcing the fruits from organic producers and suppliers. You could also plant some of the fruits in your kitchen garden.

Speaking of the kitchen garden check out 5 great plants to grow in your kitchen garden and the tools to use for gardening.

Here Is How To Grow Healthy Sukuma Wiki And Spinach In Your Backyard

Food: Tips For Choosing Ripe Fruits

Food: Tips For Fixing Food That Is Too Spicy

Share24Tweet15SendShare4Pin5
Previous Post

Technology: The Nokia 2.2 Is Now Available In Kenya

Next Post

What You Need To Know About The Huduma Namba

Lynda Chalker

Lynda Chalker

I am a writer with interest in hair, beauty and fashion. I also like telling stories, but most of all I enjoy listening and reading them. If I'm not doing any of the above, I will be trying to crack a game of chess or monopoly. My biggest fear is being ordinary.

Next Post

What You Need To Know About The Huduma Namba

Please login to join discussion

Recommended

Is Your Partner Cheating On You Financially? Financial Infidelity – Red Flags, Prevention And How To Handle It

7 Common Financial Mistakes & How To Avoid Them

18 July 2017
1.4k
My Lover Died During The Act Leaving Me Devastated And Traumatized

Grieve However Your Heart Desires

9 September 2015
148

Popular Stories

  • The Singlehood Series: I’ve Been Secretly Seeing My Ex For Years

    The Singlehood Series: I’ve Been Secretly Seeing My Ex For Years

    102 shares
    Share 40 Tweet 25
  • Kenyan Musician J. S. Ondara Nominated For A Grammy Award For His Album Tales Of America

    20 shares
    Share 8 Tweet 5
  • What To See In Ireland In 7 Days | An Ultimate Guide

    26 shares
    Share 10 Tweet 7
  • The Singlehood Series: He Bragged About Sleeping With Another Woman After We Went On A Date

    6 shares
    Share 2 Tweet 1
  • Boundaries, Sharing Costs And Moving In: Why You Need To Be Clear About Financial Responsibilities

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Potentash Blog

Potentash is an award-winning lifestyle blog. We publish lifestyle content that intersects with health, women, beauty, travel, business, relationships, finances and entertainment.

Explore

  • The Singlehood Series
  • From Stairs To Ramps
  • Man Around Nairobi
  • Pearls And Heels
  • Personal Finance
  • Food + Beverage
  • Editor’s Pick
  • Reviews

Get the Potentash Newsletter

  • Newsletter Archive
  • Subscribe
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2023. Potentash, In Partnership with Decima

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Linked In
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
  • Login
No Result
View All Result
  • Relationships
    • The Singlehood Series
    • Dating
    • Sex
    • Parenting
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Food + Beverage
    • Fashion
    • Interviews
  • Stories
    • The Singlehood Series
    • Fiction
    • Poetry
  • Skin + Beauty
    • Skin
      • Skincare
    • Hair
      • Haircare
  • Wellness
    • Physical Health
    • Emotional Wellness
    • Mental Wellness
    • Social Wellness
    • Spiritual Wellness
  • Business
    • Business Finance
    • Personal Finance
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Investments
    • Personal Investments
  • Entertainment
    • Internet
    • Events
    • Music
    • Books

Copyright © 2023. Potentash, In Partnership with Decima