The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has seized truckloads of mangoes artificially ripened with calcium carbide, a practice that poses serious health risks to consumers.
The Gombe State Coordinator Pharmacist, James Agada said that the consumption of fruits artificially ripened with calcium carbide is dangerous to health.
Speaking on Thursday, Agada pointed out that Calcium carbide contains impurities such as arsenic, lead particles, and phosphorus that can cause cancer, heart, kidney, and liver failure.
Agada urged businessmen and people to be vigilant while emphasising on the efforts made by his officials to educate them.
He said, “We caught this after a series of attempts to educate fruit traders’ associations. We got this one in a shop at Hayan Dogon Ruwa in the Billiri Local Government Area of Gombe State. Consumers should be aware of the risk of consuming artificially ripened fruits.
“The ripening of fruits with carbides is another public challenge facing us today. We have deployed a multifaceted approach to tackle the menace and ensure that our citizens are protected from the harmful effects of artificially ripened fruits.”
“Artificially ripened fruits can be identified by their uniform yellow color, dark stems, and powdery substances on the skin. They also tend to peel off quickly and have a shorter shelf life compared to naturally ripened fruits.
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“The effects of artificial ripening on fruit quality are considerable. It leads to a loss of properties such as color, taste, and feel, and does not give the natural aroma and flavor to the fruits.”
Agada encouraged customers to exercise caution while buying fruits, particularly at the busiest time of year.
“Fruits that are ripened naturally will have brown or black spots and will be more juicy and flavourful than those that are artificially ripened,” said Agada.
NAFDAC warned that anyone found selling artificially ripened fruits will face severe penalties.
“We will not tolerate any practices that put the health and well-being of our citizens at risk,” he added.
