The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has issued a stern warning to fruit dealers against the use of calcium carbide for artificial ripening, citing serious health risks.
Speaking during a public awareness campaign at a fruit market in Sokoto on Monday, the agency’s state coordinator, Mr. Abdulsalam Lawal, emphasized the dangers associated with the practice.
He urged traders to desist from using the chemical, which he warned could lead to severe health complications, including kidney damage, cancer, and hypertension.
“With Ramadan fasting approaching, a period of increased fruit consumption, using calcium carbide to hasten the fruits’ ripening is hazardous to our health,” Lawal stated.
He clarified that calcium carbide is strictly meant for industrial purposes, such as welding, and not for food processing.
To curb misuse, NAFDAC plans to intensify surveillance, ensuring that the substance is not sold to fruit vendors.
According to Lawal, commonly affected fruits in the region include mangoes, bananas, pawpaws, and watermelons.
Addressing traders, the Chairman of the Association of Fruit and Vegetable Marketers and Distributors in Sokoto, Alhaji Bello Danda, encouraged vendors to embrace safe and hygienic ripening techniques. He warned that those found engaging in harmful practices would face sanctions.
Danda also demonstrated safer methods for ripening fruits on a large scale without endangering public health.
He highlighted the importance of maintaining food safety, especially in a market that attracts buyers from across Nigeria and neighboring countries.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that NAFDAC’s sensitization campaign, which began on February 18, has involved engagement with fruit traders at different locations to promote safer food handling practices.
