Surgeon Reveals How to Spot Chemically Ripened Bananas
Dr. Manan Vora, an orthopaedic surgeon, explains how to distinguish naturally ripened bananas from those chemically treated. Vendors often use agents like calcium carbide to prematurely ripen bananas, resulting in a uniform yellow color with green tips, bland taste, and underdeveloped flesh. Naturally ripe bananas have an uneven yellow hue with brown speckles, a creamy texture, and richer flavor. Chemically treated bananas can cause digestive issues like bloating and acidity due to toxic impurities. Consumers are advised to choose spotted, creamy-textured bananas for safety.
The article highlights growing concerns about chemically ripened bananas, where vendors use agents like calcium carbide to speed up the ripening process. Dr. Manan Vora, a Mumbai-based orthopaedic surgeon and health educator, provides crucial insights on identifying these fruits and understanding their potential health risks. According to Dr. Vora, naturally ripened bananas exhibit an uneven yellow color with distinct brown or dark speckles, possess a rich, sweet flavor, and a creamy internal texture. In stark contrast, chemically ripened bananas typically appear uniformly bright yellow, often retaining a green hue at their top and bottom tips, and lack the characteristic depth of taste found in their natural counterparts. The surgeon explains that a perfect, uniform yellow with green ends is a strong indicator of artificial ripening, which merely changes the peel's color without maturing the fruit's interior. A significant concern raised is the use of hazardous chemicals like calcium carbide, which can contain toxic impurities such as arsenic and phosphorus. Regular consumption of bananas treated with these substances can lead to various health problems, including bloating, acidity, and overall digestive discomfort, especially if eaten on an empty stomach. Dr. Vora emphasizes that while the exterior may look appealing, the internal development of the fruit is compromised, affecting both taste and nutritional quality. He advises consumers to prioritize their health by selecting bananas that display natural brown spots and offer a creamy texture inside, ensuring both better flavor and safety. This guidance empowers consumers to make informed choices and avoid potential health hazards associated with chemically treated produce.
