By Salifu Faridat
In a recent and significant development, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has articulated profound concerns regarding the practice of employing calcium carbide for ripening fruits and the alarming trend of purchasing drugs from street vendors.
The gravity of this matter was underscored by NAFDAC’s Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, who entrusted Leonard Omokpariola to convey the agency’s cautionary stance during a sensitization workshop held in Awka, the capital of Anambra State.
Adeyeye notably emphasized the substantial health hazards inherently tied to the consumption of fruits artificially ripened with calcium carbide.
This hazardous method is associated with the potential development of grave ailments such as cancer, heart failure, kidney failure, and liver failure.
The director-general conscientiously illuminated the unsettling fact that calcium carbide is fraught with impurities including arsenic, lead particles, and phosphorus, all of which pose an ominous threat to human health.
Moreover, Adeyeye meticulously highlighted the array of adverse symptoms that can manifest as a result of ingesting fruits treated with calcium carbide.
These encompass an unrelenting thirst, irritations of the oral and nasal passages, weakness, permanent dermal damage, difficulty in swallowing, bouts of vomiting, and the emergence of disconcerting skin ulcers.
A pivotal identifier of artificially ripened fruits, as meticulously pointed out by Adeyeye, is their notably unnatural appearance.
This unnatural appearance is particularly conspicuous in the case of bananas and plantains, which assume an oddly uniform yellow hue with notably darker stems. In stark contrast, naturally ripened fruits typically showcase the characteristic presence of brown or black spots.
Beyond color distinctions, other telltale signs of artificially ripened fruits encompass the telltale residue of powdery substances and an increased tendency to peel more effortlessly.
Demonstrating their commitment to addressing this critical issue, NAFDAC has exhibited proactive engagement since 2019.
Related Posts
The agency has adopted measures spanning from disseminating awareness through diverse media platforms, orchestrating intelligence-driven enforcement operations, and executing targeted market raids.
These concerted actions have culminated in the confiscation and subsequent destruction of non-compliant products.
In an unequivocal pursuit of an all-encompassing solution, Adeyeye emphasized NAFDAC’s proactive stance in commissioning a rigorous scientific study.
This study is poised to ascertain the most efficacious strategy for mitigating the formidable health risks entwined with the utilization of carbides in fruit ripening.
Adeyeye meticulously illuminated that the artificial ripening of fruits through carbide treatment culminates in a disheartening degradation of pivotal attributes including color, taste, and texture.
This conventional approach falls woefully short of imparting the natural aroma and flavor that are the hallmark of fruits that mature organically.
Adding to this deficit, artificially ripened fruits lack uniformity in color, display decreased juiciness compared to their naturally ripened counterparts, and regrettably possess a markedly truncated shelf life.
A poignant observation put forth by Adeyeye is the potential physiological ramifications of acetylene, a byproduct of calcium carbide.
This compound is suspected to adversely affect the neurological system, potentially resulting in reduced oxygen supply to the brain and instigating prolonged periods of hypoxia.
In light of these grave health concerns, NAFDAC’s counsel reverberates with urgency.
The agency unequivocally urges the populace of Nigeria to abstain from the consumption of fruits that have been artificially ripened using calcium carbide.
Additionally, exercising prudence when procuring medications from street vendors is paramount.
NAFDAC resolutely advises citizens to exclusively obtain medications from duly authorized and regulated sources, ensuring the twin pillars of safety and quality are upheld.
