Waxing on the wane?

In the coming months, some of the fruits and vegetables at your neighbourhood store could lose some of their shine. The Centre is considerin...

In the coming months, some of the fruits and vegetables at your neighbourhood store could lose some of their shine. The Centre is considering a clampdown on the use of wax coatings on fresh fruits and vegetables, which not only enhances their looks, but also seals in moisture and increases shelf-life.

According to the government, the wax content could have harmful spin-offs if the application does not adhere to strict standards. In a notification issued in December, the Union Health Ministry sought to build up public opinion on the issue by proposing an amendment to the Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules, 1995, which will ban wax coating on common produce like apples, cucumbers, lemons, melons, oranges, peaches, pineapples, pumpkins, tomatoes and turnips. Interestingly, there has never been an official endorsement of the practice.

Wax Works

In the US, the use of wax on fresh produce has been certified as safe by the Food and Drug Administration. Such wax is generally produced from natural sources, like the carnauba (from the leaves of the Brazilian palm), the candellia (from reed-like desert plants) and shellac (from the secretion of the lac bug found in Pakistan). Much of the wax used in India is imported from Europe and the US, but officials fear it may be diluted and adulterated locally.

The proposal has effectively split the concerned group into two: those who support wax-coating for the preservation benefits, and those who oppose it on grounds of safety and health.

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‘‘There are two types of wax, edible and non-edible, but in India there are no guarantees that the correct one will be used,’’ says S R Gupta, additional director-general, PFA. ‘‘And many people don’t even wash or peel the fruits before eating.’’ The Health Ministry believes that the wax coating could be adulterated with chemicals harmful to health.

But not everyone is happy with the ministry stand. ‘‘As it is, post-harvest losses in India mount to about Rs 60,000 crore. About 30 to 40 per cent of our fruits and vegetable produce rots away or get diseased. Wax coating is one way to prevent it. In India this technology is still at an infancy. But instead of encouraging it, they are bent on curbing it,’’ says Romesh Kumar Sud, director, biotech, OSB Agencies, which deals with post-harvest technology.

The to-wax-or-not-to-wax controversy has sent ripples through the exporter community as well, though the government says the notification is applicable only to the domestic market. ‘‘There is no way to make a distinction between (produce for) the domestic market and the export market. That is why the ruling will hit the exporter and the consumer,’’ says Sud.

According to industry sources, fruits and vegetables lose their natural lubricants between plucking and packing. To prevent bruising and decay, handlers apply commercial wax on the produce.

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‘‘In India we use wax on citrus fruits, which are vulnerable to moisture loss, and also on ginger,’’ says Dr B Lal, technical advisor, R&D, at the Agricultural and Processed Food Export Development Authority, an autonomous organisation attached to the Ministry of Commerce.

Though Lal was unaware of the December notification, he says if waxing is banned, it would definitely affect the export of such produce to the middle-east and Europe. ‘‘We need to ensure that the standards of wax coating are adhered to. WTO standards specify the grade of wax to be used, as well as the thickness of the coating. But because of the high level of illiteracy in the country, these norms are often not followed,’’ says Lal.

The government will decide its next move on the issue only after sorting out public opinion. But its message to the consumer seems clear: All that glitters is not good.

Railway authorities promptly took action, shifting passengers to other coaches and quickly extinguishing the fire.

Fire noticed in coach of Amritsar–Saharsa Garib Rath Express, no casualties reported

India35 min ago

A fire broke out in a coach of Amritsar–Saharsa Garib Rath Express at Sirhind Station in Punjab, but no casualties were reported. Railway officials quickly took action, shifting passengers to other coaches and extinguishing the fire. The train will depart to its destination shortly. The incident occurred at 07:30 hrs and is currently being investigated.

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