The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned fruit dealers against using calcium carbide to artificially ripen fruits, describing the practice as dangerous to public health.
The agency’s Coordinator in Sokoto State, Abdulsalam Lawal, issued the warning on Thursday, expressing concern that the harmful method is still being used by some traders to hasten fruit ripening for commercial sale.
Lawal noted that the risk is particularly high during the Ramadan fasting period when fruit consumption typically increases, stressing that the chemical poses serious health dangers to consumers.
He warned that exposure to calcium carbide may lead to severe health complications, including kidney damage, hypertension, cancer, and other life-threatening conditions.
The NAFDAC official urged traders to immediately discontinue the practice, emphasizing that calcium carbide is intended for industrial purposes such as welding and metal work, not food processing.
He added that the agency would intensify surveillance and enforcement to ensure the chemical is not diverted for use by fruit vendors, noting that fruits such as mangoes, bananas, pawpaw, and watermelon are among those commonly affected.