Health hazards posed by the consumption of artificially ripened fruits in Bangladesh.

This review paper discusses the impact of chemicals used in fruits as ripening agent on fruit quality and consumers' health. Chemicals and plants hormones are also being used in harvested fruits at the time of marketing in Bangladesh. Chemicals like acetylene, ethylene etc. are used for ripening immature fruits and thus promote their cosmetic quality. Sometimes fruit sellers ripen immature fruits artificially to meet the high demand and make high profit. During transportation, the naturally ripened fruits may become over ripen and inedible. Many fruit wholesalers make fruits ripen with calcium carbide and also treat those with formalin to protect against microbial attack and thus minimize financial loss. The fruits ripened with calcium carbide may develop uniform attractive surface color, but poor in flavor and the inside may remain unripe. Use of chemicals accelerates ripening, but affects the nutritional quality of fruits. Most of these chemicals are harmful for human health. It is necessary to build awareness among fruit producers, traders and consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]