The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a cautionary advisory to Nigerians, advising against the consumption of fruits ripened using calcium carbide due to potential health complications.
Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director General of NAFDAC, delivered this warning in her keynote address during a media sensitization workshop in the South-South Zone. The workshop, held in Uyo on Thursday, focused on the risks associated with drug hawking and the artificial ripening of fruits through the use of calcium carbide.
Dr. Leonard Omokpariola, Director of Chemical Evaluation & Research, represented Adeyeye during the event. He conveyed that the consumption of fruits artificially ripened with calcium carbide could lead to various health issues such as sleeping disorders, mouth ulcers, skin rashes, kidney problems, and even cancer.
Adeyeye highlighted that calcium carbide possesses an alkaline nature, which can corrode the mucosal tissue in the abdominal region and disrupt proper intestinal functions.
The Director General affirmed that NAFDAC has launched extensive campaigns across the country to combat the menace of using calcium carbide for fruit ripening and the illicit hawking of drugs.
“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 swallowing, vomiting, skin ulcers, and so on.
“Higher exposure may cause undesired fluid build-up in lungs (pulmonary oedema).
“Acetylene produced by Calcium Carbide affects the neurological system and reduces oxygen supply to the brain and further induces prolonged hypoxia.
“The impurities are hazardous to pregnant women and children and may lead to headache, dizziness, mood disturbances, mental confusion, memory loss, cerebral oedema (swelling in the brain caused by excessive fluids), sleepiness, or seizures,” Adeyeye said.
“Drug hawkers are also the major distributors and suppliers of narcotic medicines to criminal networks, including armed bandits, insurgents, kidnappers, and armed robbers.
“Drug Hawkers constitute a serious threat to our national security,” Adeyeye said.
Adeyeye further encouraged Nigerians to refrain from purchasing drugs from street vendors. The director general emphasized that the issue of drug hawking presents a significant obstacle to the healthcare system in the nation. She emphasized NAFDAC’s unwavering commitment to completely eliminating this illicit practice.
Adeyeye asserted that drug hawkers, whether intentionally or unknowingly, contribute to endangering public health by subjecting vital and life-saving medications to adverse weather conditions.
