The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned fruit dealers and consumers about the dangers of using chemicals to ripen fruits.
According to Gonzuk Bedima, NAFDAC Coordinator in Adamawa State, the most commonly used chemical for ripening fruits, particularly bananas and oranges, is calcium carbide, which is mainly used in welding.
Bedima issued the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola on Thursday, highlighting the severe health risks associated with consuming chemically ripened fruits.
He noted that calcium carbide can cause cancer, kidney damage, and hypertension, emphasizing that fruits treated with the chemical often appear very ripe on the outside but are not ripened inside.
NAFDAC has previously sensitized fruit sellers about the dangers of chemical ripening and plans to continue this campaign, especially with the approach of fasting season.
The agency urges consumers to be vigilant and avoid buying fruits ripened with chemicals, encouraging them to report any suspicious fruits to NAFDAC.
Bedima advised consumers to be cautious of overly ripe fruits, check for unusual signs, and report suspicious fruits to NAFDAC to prevent others from consuming them.
