Consumption of These Artificially Ripened Fruits Causes Cancer, Heart Failure, NAFDAC Warns

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has warned the public against consumption of fruits artificially ripened with calcium carbide.

The sale and eating of fruits that have been artificially ripened with calcium carbide has been seen, according to NAFDAC, and is a risky practice for human health.

The process of ripening transforms fruit into something that is edible, softer, sweeter, more tasty, nourishing, and beautiful.

READ ALSO: How Nigeria Is Set To Record 700,000 Unwanted Pregnancies, 300,000 Abortions In 2023

Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, expressed regret for the nefarious activities of some unpatriotic and dishonest citizens in the country during his keynote speech at the flag-off of NAFDAC Media Sensitization Workshop on Dangers of Drug Hawking and Ripening of Fruits with Calcium Carbide in Abuja yesterday.

She advised Nigerians to stop buying fruits that had been ripened with calcium carbide in order to protect their health.

“Fruits provide the body with micronutrients 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,” she said.

Although the NAFDAC head acknowledged that carbide-induced fruit ripening was another current public issue in Nigeria, he claimed that the organization had adopted a diverse strategy to combat the problem.

In her list of effects on fruit quality, she mentioned significant loss of qualities such as colour, taste, and feel, and such method does not offer the fruits the natural aroma and flavor.

READ ALSO: 6 Key Factors To Worsening Traffic Congestion In Akowonjo

“These fruits do not possess uniform colour and are less juicy than when ripened naturally and have comparatively shorter shelf life. Calcium Carbide when sprayed with water reacts chemically to produce acetylene, which acts like ethylene and ripens fruits by a similar process.

”Calcium carbide generally contains impurities such as arsenic, lead particles, phosphorus, etc., that pose several very serious health hazards.

“Consumption of fruits containing these impurities may cause cancer, heart, kidney and liver failure. They may also 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).”