The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned against fruit ripening with calcium carbide, describing it as a harmful practice that endangers human lives.
Director-general of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, gave the warning yesterday at the flag-off of a media sensitisation workshop on the Dangers of Drug Hawking and Fruit Ripening with Calcium Carbide in Abuja.
She said calcium carbide contains impurities such as arsenic, lead particles, phosphorus, etc., that cause several health hazards such as cancer, heart, kidney and liver failure, neurological disorders, intestinal problems, skin damage, mouth ulcers, etc.
Adeyeye stated that fruits artificially ripened with calcium carbide may be ripe on the skin but remain unripe inside, adding that such fruits do not possess uniform colour and are less juicy than when ripened naturally and have have comparatively shorter shelf life.
However, the DG stated that NAFDAC has taken some decisive steps such as sensitisation of the public through different media outlets, enforcement through intelligence and raids in fruit markets that have resulted in seizures and destruction of violative products.
She also said that NAFDAC has commissioned a scientific study on the best approach towards mitigating the health hazards posed by ripening of fruits with carbides.
“I have mandated some of my directors and support staff to take these campaigns to the nooks and crannies of this country. We are confident of winning the war against these two hydra-headed public health menaces,” she said.
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