The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has cautioned fruit sellers against using calcium carbide to ripen fruits, citing severe health risks.
During a public awareness campaign at a Sokoto fruit market, NAFDAC's state coordinator, Abdulsalam Lawal, emphasized the dangers, including potential kidney damage, cancer, and hypertension. He stressed that calcium carbide is only approved for industrial use, not food processing.
"With Ramadan approaching, when fruit consumption increases, using calcium carbide is extremely hazardous," Lawal warned, adding that NAFDAC will intensify surveillance to curb the practice.
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Alhaji Bello Danda, Chairman of the Association of Fruit and Vegetable Marketers in Sokoto, urged traders to adopt safer ripening methods and warned of penalties for violations. He also demonstrated natural fruit ripening techniques to ensure consumer safety.
NAFDAC's campaign, which began on February 18, continues to educate marketers on the dangers of unsafe fruit ripening practices.
