In response to concerns over artificially ripened fruits in Billiri Local Government Area, Gombe State, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) conducted a sensitisation exercise on Friday to educate fruit sellers about the dangers of using calcium carbide.
Fruits are a vital source of micronutrients that boost immunity and support overall health. Ripening naturally enhances their taste, texture, and nutritional value. However, fruits such as mangoes, bananas, plantains, guavas, oranges, and grapes artificially ripened with calcium carbide pose serious health risks.
During the exercise, NAFDAC Gombe State Coordinator, Pharmacist James Agada, explained that the intervention was triggered by reports of calcium carbide use in the local markets.
“Calcium carbide is hazardous to human health. Our goal is to protect consumers by promoting safe and natural fruit ripening methods,” Agada said.
He also shared tips to identify artificially ripened fruits: “If the skin is yellow but the inside remains unripe, or if the stem is dark while the fruit is bright yellow, especially for bananas and plantains, it may have been ripened with calcium carbide. Naturally ripened fruits usually show brown or black spots, whereas artificially ripened ones may have powdery residues and peel off quickly.”
Agada outlined the potential health risks, noting that consumption of calcium carbide-ripened fruits can lead to cancer, liver, kidney, and heart complications, frequent thirst, irritation in the mouth and nose, vomiting, skin ulcers, and other severe conditions.
NAFDAC’s approach focuses first on education and awareness before enforcement. “We appeal to fruit sellers to adopt safe practices. Those who continue to violate regulations will face sanctions. Protecting public health is our top priority,” he stressed.
The coordinator also encouraged vendors to verify products using NAFDAC’s registration numbers and digital platforms such as the Green Book app, NAPAMS and Scan2Verify.
In response, the Chairman of the Fruit Sellers Association in Billiri LGA, Murtala Mohammed, praised NAFDAC’s initiative and pledged compliance from his members.
“We appreciate NAFDAC for enlightening us. Our members are advised against using calcium carbide. Safer alternatives, such as pear or garden egg extracts, can be used to ripen fruits naturally,” Mohammed stated.
Through initiatives like this, NAFDAC aims to safeguard public health while encouraging sustainable and safe practices among fruit vendors in the state.
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