The Bhutan Food and Drug Authority, BFDA, has strengthened controls on imported Langra mangoes after it detected calcium carbide in 12 out of 34 mango samples tested. Calcium carbide is a toxic chemical used for artificial ripening. In the first round, BFDA tested 11 mango samples, of which two tested positive for calcium carbide. Of the additional 23 samples, 10 tested positive for calcium carbide, with the majority of the positive samples belonging to the Langra variety. BFDA said it continues to monitor international food safety alerts through systems including the International Food Safety Authorities Network and the European Union’s Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed.