FRUITS RIPENED WITH CARBIDE CAN CAUSE HEART, KIDNEY AND LIVER FAILURE’ – NAFDAC WARNS

According to NAFDAC who warned the public on the dangerous effects of eating carbide-ripened fruits, side effects of eating such fruits include include cancer, heart, kidney and liver failure.

The general public has been warned in a statement released by The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Monday, to disallow consumption of fruits ripened with calcium carbide.

 The statement reads;

 “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. Naturally ripened fruits usually have brown or black spots while those artificially ripened have traces of powdery substances and peel off quickly. Ripening fruits and vegetables with calcium carbide is a criminal offence and from henceforth, perpetrators would be prosecuted.”

It advised the public to “report suspected cases to the nearest NAFDAC office or call 09094262773, 09094262772 and 08133630600’’.