The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has issued a public alert on what it described as the dangerous practice of sale and consumption of fruits artificially ripened with calcium carbide, saying it could cause cancer, heart, kidney and liver failure.
NAFDAC Issuing the warning in a statement entitled: ‘The use of calcium carbide for fruit ripening is unsafe’, Director General of the Agency, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said ripening fruits with calcium carbide is very dangerous to health and is a criminal offence adding that perpetrators would be prosecuted. Warning farmers and traders to desist from the practice even as she urged the general public to shun the purchase and consumption of artificially ripened fruits in the interest of their own health, Adeyeye said: ”Fruits provide the body with micro-nutrients that improve immunity and prevent diseases among other benefits. Fruit ripening is a unique aspect of plant development, which makes the fruit edible, softer, sweeter, more palatable, nutritious and attractive.
“However, the consumption of fruits such as mango, banana, plantain, guava, orange, grape, etc or any other fruits ripened with calcium carbide is dangerous to health. Ripening fruits with calcium carbide are very dangerous to health and is a criminal offence.” The statement reads in part: “These fruits although possess uniform colour are less juicy than when ripened naturally and have a comparatively shorter shelf life.
Artificially ripened fruits may be ripe on the skin while the inside is unripe. If the fruits are all yellow whereas the stem is dark, the fruit may be identified as artificially ripened; this is true especially with banana and plantain. “Consumers are advised to examine fruits carefully to select the right fruit by observing the variation of colour. If the fruit that you buy is too good among others in ‘near perfect’ ripening colour, it may have been ripened with calcium carbide.
Fruits should be washed thoroughly under running water before consumption.” “They may cause frequent thirst, irritation in mouth and nose, weakness, permanent skin damage, difficulty in swallowing, vomiting, skin ulcer and so forth. Higher exposure may cause undesired fluid build-up in lungs (pulmonary oedema).”
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