Carbide Mango Side Effects

Consuming mangoes ripened with calcium carbide can cause several serious health issues:

• Vomiting, diarrhea (sometimes with blood), weakness, burning sensation in chest and abdomen, difficulty swallowing, eye irritation, and permanent eye damage.

• Skin ulcers, sore throat, cough, and shortness of breath.

• Stomach upset and disruption of intestinal function. Long-term exposure can cause peptic ulcers.

• Headache, dizziness, sleepiness, memory loss, numbness in legs and hands, low blood pressure, and seizures due to neurological effects from prolonged hypoxia.

• Calcium carbide is often contaminated with toxic arsenic and phosphorus which can accumulate in the body.

Calcium carbide is a highly reactive chemical that produces acetylene gas to artificially ripen mangoes. It is banned by the FSSAI as it breaks down nutrients, changes only the skin color while the fruit remains raw inside, and is explosive.

Pregnant women should especially avoid consuming carbide-ripened mangoes. Consumers are advised to wash mangoes thoroughly, soak for 30 minutes, peel the skin, and consume only the flesh to minimize exposure to these toxic chemicals.