Is your watermelon safe? Here's how you can test adulteration with erythrosine color
Erythrosine is one of the most poisonous colours used in watermelon. This is a pink dye that is commonly used for food colouring. The FSSAI, or the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, has created a thorough video on how to detect this adulterant in watermelon.
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Food adulteration is very common these days. In anything like rice, fruits, spices, butter, cheese, milk, or even mineral water, adulterations are mixed to increase the shelf life of the product.
Even with seasonal fruits such as watermelon, adulterants are used to boost sweetness and make the pulp more red.
Erythrosine is one of the most poisonous colours used in watermelon. This is a pink dye that is commonly used for food colouring. The FSSAI, or the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, has created a thorough video on how to detect this adulterant in watermelon.
How to check watermelon adulterated with erythrosine
In the video, FSSAI recommends cutting the watermelon in half and testing the dye by dabbing a cotton ball on the pulp. If the cotton ball turns red, it indicates that the fruit has been contaminated with a chemical dye.
Meanwhile, FSSAI has asked traders and food business operators not to use the banned product 'calcium carbide' for ripening of fruits.
In an official statement, FSSAI said it has "alerted traders'/fruits handlers/Food Business Operators (FBOs) operating ripening chambers to strictly ensure compliance with the prohibition on calcium carbide for artificial ripening of fruits, particularly during the mango season". FSSAI has also advised Food Safety Departments of states/UTs to remain vigilant and take serious action and deal stringently against person(s) indulging in such unlawful practices as per the provisions of the FSS Act, 2006, and rules/regulations made thereunder.
"Calcium carbide, commonly used for ripening fruits like mangoes, releases acetylene gas, which contains harmful traces of arsenic and phosphorus.
"These substances, also known as 'Masala', can cause serious health issues such as dizziness, frequent thirst, irritation, weakness, difficulty in swallowing, vomiting and skin ulcers, etc," FSSAI said.
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