Beware of fresh looking vegetables

Often we are being more fascinated for fresh looking vegetables thinking it to be more healthy and nutritious. Indeed they are, but now a days vegetables are artificailly being made to look more fresh and bigger in size.

There has been an extreme in the field of adulteration of eatables and now a days a very harmful chemicals are being used in vegetables to make them bigger in size and to look fresh.

Common chemical used to adulterate vegetables

The chemicals substances used most commonly to adulterate vegetables in order to look fresh and fleshy are mainly a banned injection called oxytocin. The other chemicals used are calcium carbide (CaC2), a chemical used in explosives and also used for artificial ripening of fruits especially mangoes.

Oxytocin in vegetables

Oxytocin injections were used to augment labor in a full term pregnant women, however its misuse to terminate pregnancy made this chemical a banned product in India. The injection is administered in the vegetables either within the plant or just before it comes to the market which make them a fresh and fluffy appearance. Oxytocin injections are mainly injected in bottle gourds, bitter gourds, pumpkins, spinach etc. The customer gets attracted by its fresh and green look and thus feels that those are much better in quality.

In recent times oxytocin has been also used in cattles for more milk production. However there are serious effect on health by using these vegetables and milk of such cattles which are described below.

Calcium carbide in fruits and vegetables

Calcium carbide are used in fruits for ripening. Though there is no exposure limit for calcium carbide but this doesnt make it safe to use. It can cause a serious damage to eyes and lungs.

Harmful effects of chemicals used in vegetables

The chemicals used in vegetables are hazardous for health, but these are being openly used especially in the Northern region of India like Delhi and nearby areas.

Health hazard of calcium carbide

The contact of calcium carbide can severely irritate and burn the eyes and skin
causing permanent eye damage and ulcers on the skin. There may be irritation in mouth, throat and if inhaled can cause cough and wheeze.

Some times there may be medical emergency like pulmonary edema which can be life threatening at times.

Apart from that calcium carbide are also known to cause some cancer in animals, it can affect reproduction and may cause azoospermia.

The conclusion lies that it is easy to get fascinated towards fresh and fliffy looking vegetables but it is necessary to ensure that it is safa and palatable without any hazards.