Enjoy mangoes with a pinch of caution: Docs

AS the mango season reaches its peak, markets across the district are filled with bright, yellow mangoes, attracting eager buyers.

- BANDHAVI ANNAM @Guntur

However, health experts are urging caution, highlighting concerns that some of these fruits may have been ripened through artificial means, compromising both quality and safety.

Popular mango varieties such as Rasalu and Banganapalli are often harvested before reaching full maturity and subjected to ripening techniques that may not meet food safety standards. Though natural ripening remains the preferred method, some traders resort to chemical alternatives to meet market demand quickly. Calcium carbide, a substance known to release acetylene gas when exposed to moisture, is used in some instances for accelerating the ripening process.