The Director-General (DG) of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof, Mojisola Adeyeye, has warned against artificial ripening of fruits and drug hawking, saying they are detrimental to health.
Adeyeye said this during a one-day sensitisation workshop for health journalists entitled ‘Dangers of drug hawking, ripening of fruits with calcium carbide’, held at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
While lamenting the impacts of the practice, she called on the media to join the regulatory body in the fight against drug hawking, artificial ripening of fruits in the country. Adeyeye was represented by the Director, Chemical Evaluation and Research, NAFDAC; Dr. Leonard Omokpariola.
In her keynote address, the NAFDAC boss, said: “Drug hawking jeopardises our healthcare delivery system, exposing essential medicines to damaging weather conditions and leading to degraded efficacy. We must eradicate this illicit trade and protect human lives.
“Many drug hawkers peddle counterfeit, substandard, and expired drugs, endangering the health and safety of unsuspecting Nigerians. Prescription drugs should not be sold by unqualified individuals. Our national security is at stake.
“Fruit ripening with calcium carbide poses significant health risks. Consumption of such fruits may lead to cancer, organ failure, skin damage, and other serious health complications. Let’s be vigilant and choose natural ripened fruits for our well-being.
“Artificially ripened fruits lack the natural aroma, flavour, and nutritional benefits of naturally ripened ones. Identifying artificially ripened fruits is crucial – yellow fruits with dark stems and traces of powdery substances may indicate use of calcium carbide.”
She disclosed that calcium carbide contains two toxic chemicals namely arsenic; and phosphorus, and when mixed with water, it produces acetylene gas, which is injurious to humans.
In her presentation, the Director, Food Safety and Applied Nutrition; Mrs. Eva Edwards, disclosed that the world has data of 600 million cases of foodborne illnesses, with 91 million of them recorded in Africa, which has led to 137,000 deaths. She also noted that over 200,000 Nigerians die annually from the consumption of unsafe foods.
