The National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC has warned against the use of calcium carbide as an artificial method of ripening fruits.
According to the agency, the consumption of such fruits causes serious damage to the brain including other parts of the body.
The director-general of the agency, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, gave the warning Thursday in Uyo at the flag-off of the NAFDAC Media Sensitisation Workshop on Dangers of Drug Hawking and Ripening of Fruits with Calcium Carbide.
Adeyeye, represented by the director of Chemical Evaluation and Research, Dr. Leonard Omokpariola, said the agency had been very emphatic on the dangers and health implication of “these two nefarious activities and have taken decisive steps through media sensitisation, enforcement through intelligence and raids in fruit markets that have resulted in seizures and destruction of violative products.”
She said, “The menace of drug hawking has continued to pose a serious challenge to health care delivery system in the country and this underscored NAFDAC’s resolute determination to eradicate the illicit trade.
“Many Drug Hawkers are knowingly or unknowingly merchants of Death who expose essential while many drugs sold by the illiterate and semi-literate drug hawkers are counterfeit, sub-standard or expired, and therefore do not meet the quality, safety, and efficacy requirement of regulated medicines.
“Drug hawkers are also the major distributors and suppliers of narcotic medicines to criminal networks such as armed bandits, insurgents, kidnappers, and armed robbers. Drug hawkers constitute a serious threat to our national security.
“I wish to warn that any Drug Hawker arrested by NAFDAC will be prosecuted, and will face a jail term, and our Enforcement Officers are currently carrying out synchronised nationwide operations. No offender will be spared from facing the full wrath of the Law.”
She said further, “Consumption of fruits containing these impurities may cause cancer, heart, kidney, and liver failure. They may also cause frequent thirst, irritation in the mouth and nose, weakness, permanent skin damage, difficulty in swallowing, vomiting, skin ulcer, and so forth. Higher exposure may cause undesired fluid build-up in the lungs (pulmonary oedema).
“Consuming such artificially ripened fruits could result in sleeping disorders, mouth ulcers, skin rashes, kidney problems, and possibly even cancer.”
