Identification of indigenous ripining technologies of banana and plantain fruits among women-marketers in southeastern Nigeria

Effect of Biological and Chemical Ripening Agents on the Nutritional and Metal Composition of Banana (<i>Musa spp</i>)

“…This result agrees with most research work in literature that ripening agents do accelerate ripening faster than when done naturally (Adewole and Duruji, 2010;Hakim et al, 2012 andSingal et al, 2012). Calcium carbide can induce ripening within 24hrs and the fact that it is cheap makes it to be a popular ripening agent among banana marketers especially in the developing countries (Ajayi and Mbah, 2007) UB-unripe banana, RB1 is banana ripened with calcium carbide, RB2 is banana ripened with potash, RB3 is banana ripened with African mango fruit, RB4 is banana ripened with jatropha curcas leaf, RB5 is banana ripened without any ripening agent. Table 1 shows the mean of the result of the properties of unripe and ripe bananas.…”

“…Ripening agents are substances which hasten the ripening process, and it comes in different forms. These include ethylene gas, ethephon, ethylene glycol, etherel and calcium carbide (Singal et al, 2012); African bush mango fruit (irvingia gabonesis) and leaves, Palm nut, Cassia leaves, Yellow Pawpaw leaves, torch light battery, calcium carbide, potash and ash (Ajayi and Mbah, 2007). African mango fruits, calcium carbide and newbouldia leaves were also reported by Adewole and Duruji (2010).…”

“…According to Singal et al (2012), the commercial practice is to use these ripening agents to artificially ripen the fruits at the destination market before retailing. Ethylene gas is expensive to produce so low cost indigenous ripening technologies involving the use of hazardous materials are used (Singal et al 2012;Ajayi and Mbah, 2007). The adverse potential of calcium carbide as a ripening agent has been established (Singal et al, 2012) while other chemical ripening agents like ethepon, etherel and ethylene glycol are also considered hazardous to health and they have to be used within recommended safe limits (Hakim et al 2012;Food and Beverage Online, 2010).…”

“…They reported that Pb and Cd which are residues from the polymerization process of polythene can migrate at high temperature and under long storage period. Since chemical ripening agents like carbide are used to generate heat, the high temperature needed for the heavy metals to migrate is provided (Ajayi and Mbah, 2007). The degree of toxicity of heavy metals to the body depends on the daily intake and since these metals are non-biodegradable there is concern if it continues to be taken by the body over time.…”

“…The consumption of banana cuts across every age group, from little children to adults, and it supplies necessary calories and essential micronutrients. Once harvested it is highly perishable, with short shelf life leading to high post harvest losses of about 20-50% due to poor handling and quality deterioration (Ajayi and Mbah, 2007;Zewter et al, 2012). In order to reduce the high post harvest losses, bananas are harvested when green but mature, and artificially ripened when needed with the use of ripening agents.…”