Indian food safety officials have found pouches of Chinese - containing ethylene oxide in fruit stocks at a factory in Chandigarh . The chemical , which is used to ripen fruit , has never been found in the country before . Exposure to ethylene oxide can lead to respiratory and lung injury and has been associated with diseases including cancer . Demand for ethylene oxide in China has surged over the past 10 years , and production and demand will continue to grow throughout the next decade , according to Absolute Reports .
Indian food safety officials have found pouches of Chinese-made ethylene oxide in mango stocks at a market in Chandigarh. The chemical, which is used to ripen fruit, has never been found in the country before. Exposure to ethylene oxide can lead to respiratory and lung injury and has been associated with diseases including cancer. Demand for ethylene oxide in China has surged over the past 10 years, and production and demand will continue to grow throughout the coming decade, according to Absolute Reports.