Jumoke Olasunkanmi
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has again issued a warning against the use of calcium carbide to hasten the ripening process of fruits.
African Health Report (AHR) had done an exposè on the practice of using dangerous chemicals to ripen fruits. Read here.
Calcium carbide is chemical compound used in the production of acetylene and calcium cynamide. Despite not being fit for consumption as it contains poisonous elements such as asernic, lead and phosphorus and can cause heart, liver ad kidney failure, Carbide is often used by fruit sellers to ripen fruits.
In July 2023, NAFDAC issued an advice to the public to avoid fruits which have been ripened with calcium carbide.
A tweet posted on the agency’s official account on Thursday, disclosed that the warning was given at a South-south Media Sensitisation Workshop on the dangers of drug hawking and ripening of fruits with calcium carbide in Uyo, Awka-Ibom State.
The agency expressed belief that the workshop will propel participants to promote the campaign against the unhealthy practice of using carbide to ripen fruits.
“This sensitisation workshop is a Training the Trainers’ programme with the great expectation that participants will assume the role of champions in the vanguard of the campaign against drug hawking and the use of calcium carbide to ripen fruits,” it explained.
