Ramadan: Dear Fruit Lover, Consume With Caution

With the Ramadan season setting in, fruit lovers in the country have been warned to be cautious buying.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Adamawa which issued the warning alerted the penchant by unscrupulous individuals to use chemicals in ripening fruits.

The NAFDAC Coordinator in Adamawa, Mr Gonzuk Bedima, in a warning while speaking with NAN, said the criminals commonly use calcium carbide to ripen fruits, particularly bananas and oranges.

He said that calcium carbide, was mainly used in welding and that consuming any fruit ripened with it could lead to developing cancer in any part of the body.

He noted that NAFDAC had previously sensitised the leadership of fruit sellers and plans to continue this campaign, especially with the approach of fasting season, when many people purchased fruits for their homes.

The coordinator urged consumers to be vigilant and avoid buying fruits ripened with chemicals due to the health risks.

He explained that fruits treated with calcium carbide often appeared very ripe on the outside but were not ripened inside.

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If you suspect such fruits, avoid buying them, as they are dangerous to your health,” he said, encouraging the public to report such fruits to NAFDAC to prevent others from consuming them.

The NAFDAC warning is coming against the background of the coming Ramadan fasting season, with faithful likely to want to consume more fruits after their religious exercises.