NAFDAC Warns Public of Health Risks Associated with Consuming Artificially Ripened Fruits

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a warning to the public regarding the consumption of artificially ripened fruits using calcium carbide.

According to NAFDAC, the sale and consumption of fruits that have undergone artificial ripening with calcium carbide pose risks to human health.

The ripening process of fruits is crucial in making them edible, soft, sweet, tasty, nutritious, and visually appealing.

During the recent NAFDAC Media Sensitization Workshop on Dangers of Drug Hawking and Ripening of Fruits with Calcium Carbide in Abuja, the Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, expressed regret over the unethical practices of certain citizens engaging in these activities.

She urged Nigerians to refrain from purchasing fruits that have been ripened with calcium carbide in order to safeguard their well-being.

Prof. Adeyeye emphasized the importance of fruits in providing the body with micronutrients that enhance immunity and prevent diseases, among other benefits. Natural fruit ripening is a distinctive aspect of plant development that renders fruits edible, soft, sweet, flavorful, nutritious, and visually appealing.

However, the consumption of fruits such as mangoes, bananas, plantains, guavas, oranges, grapes, and others that have been ripened with calcium carbide is perilous to health, she warned.

While acknowledging that carbide-induced fruit ripening is a pressing issue in Nigeria, the head of NAFDAC assured that the organization has implemented a comprehensive strategy to tackle the problem.

In her discussion on the effects of calcium carbide on fruit quality, Prof. Adeyeye mentioned significant deterioration in qualities such as color, taste, and texture. This method also fails to impart the fruits with their natural aroma and flavor.

She explained that when calcium carbide comes into contact with water, it chemically reacts to produce acetylene, which mimics ethylene and induces fruit ripening through a similar process.

Moreover, calcium carbide often contains impurities like arsenic, lead particles, phosphorus, and others that pose severe health risks.

Consuming fruits with these impurities can lead to cancer, as well as heart, kidney, and liver failure. It may also cause symptoms such as persistent thirst, mouth and nasal irritation, weakness, permanent skin damage, difficulty in swallowing, vomiting, and skin ulcers, among others. Prolonged exposure to these impurities may result in fluid accumulation in the lungs (pulmonary edema).