The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has advised the public against consuming fruits ripened with calcium carbide.
The agency gave the warning on Monday in Abuja in a statement signed by its management, saying that carbide-ripened fruits have dangerous effects including cancer and other illnesses.
According to the management, consuming such fruits can result in heart, kidney and liver failure. “NAFDAC hereby warns farmers and the general public against the dangers of using calcium carbide for ripening fruits such as banana, mango, plantain, orange and cashew,” the management said.
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.
The public is advised to “report suspected cases to the nearest NAFDAC office or call 09094262773, 09094262772 and 08133630600’’.
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