Ganiyu MubarakBy Ganiyu MubarakFebruary 24, 2025
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, has warned fruit dealers and sellers against using calcium carbide on fruit ripening for commercial purposes.
NAFDAC Coordinator in Sokoto State, Abdulsalam Lawal, during a public awareness campaign at a fruit market on Monday.
Lawal urged fruit dealers and sellers to stop the dangerous practice, which he noted was harmful, stressing that it posed serious risks to public health.
He warned that the use of calcium carbide could lead to severe health issues, including kidney damage, cancer, hypertension, and even terminal diseases.
He explained that only welders were permitted to use calcium carbide for tasks such as melting iron, and that NAFDAC would increase surveillance to ensure that it’s being used properly and not sold to fruit vendors.
He said fruits such as mango, banana, pawpaw, water melon and others were mostly ripened with calcium carbide in the areas.
Alhaji Bello Danda, Chairman of the Association of Fruit and Vegetable Marketers and Distributors in Sokoto, advised fellow sellers to adopt hygienic methods at all times.
He warned that violators of this process would face penalties.
Danda demonstrated how mangoes, bananas, and watermelons could be ripened safely in commercial quantities without posing harm to consumers.
He noted that fruits market was widely patronised by people from all parts of Nigeria as well as neighbouring countries.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the ongoing awareness exercise commenced from February 18 and the NAFDAC team has held discussions with marketers at various locations on related issues.
