The agency gave the warning on Monday in Abuja in a statement signed by its management, saying that dangerous effects of carbide-ripened fruits include cancer and other illnesses. According to the management, consuming such fruits can also cause heart, kidney and liver failure. NAFDAC warns farmers and the general public against the dangers of using calcium carbide for ripening fruits such as banana, mango, plantain, orange and cashew.
On how to identify carbide-ripened fruits, the management said that “naturally ripened fruits usually have brown or black spots while those artificially ripened have traces of powdery substances and peel off quickly’’.
The Agency further warned that “ripening fruits and vegetables with calcium carbide is a criminal offence’’, adding that henceforth, perpetrators would be prosecuted. It advised the public to “report suspected cases to the nearest NAFDAC office or call 09094262773, 09094262772 and 08133630600’’. The agency reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the health of Nigerians.
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*There is not much told on how to identify these fruits.....if they wash it the powdery substance will go off and make it difficult to spot.
Exactly my thoughts Stella.
ReplyDeleteYou just took the words out of my mouth. Like they wouldn't wash the fruits before selling.
How are we going to survive in this already hard country. To buy fruit now is wahala
ReplyDeleteNo only GOD will help us in this country. That's why I'm scared to buy ripened plantain in the market.
ReplyDeleteI heard some use chemicals to make it ripe quickly.
DeleteGod our Country Nigeria is in your hands oo.
No wonder the ripened plantain i ate yesterday purged me small. Na wa
DeleteSo how do we identify fruits ripened with chemical. Na God hand we dey
ReplyDeleteA bestie of mine told me if you see plantain that is extremely yellow and eye catching, calcium carbide was used. She said same for apples. But dunno how to differentiate that of apples well
ReplyDeleteIt is so prevalent here in PH especially those abokis peddling carrots. You can easily identify the redshot/ blood like pigmentation at the base of the carrots... so disheartening.
ReplyDelete.
I saw a video where a woman was dipping an orange into a substance in another bucket and the orange changes it colour to a ripened form. Only God will save us in this country. People are doing anything to make money. Na wa.
ReplyDeleteToo much with these banana sellers
ReplyDeleteTo the detriment of the populace oh.
ReplyDeleteGod has been saving us and He will continue to save us. Haba!! You eat food wahala you dont eat fruits nsogbu!! Maybe a full body detox can help our individual systems.
ReplyDeleteStella you took the word out of my mind
ReplyDeleteHow do we differentiate from the one ripened with chemicals and the one not. More clarifications is needed please. Nafdac.
ReplyDeleteMost sellers use it
ReplyDeleteEspecially banana nd mango