By Maria Famakinwa

The National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) recently drew the attention of the public to different chemicals applied to fruits by traders to force them to get  ripen.

Some traders believe that waiting for the natural process for fruits to ripen will take a longer time and will prevent them from making fast profits and this explains why they resort to a shortcut of quickening the ripening process of fruits through chemicals that are harmful to health.

A top official with NAFDAC revealed that calcium carbide has been used to quicken the ripening process of most fruits. She further said that carbide contains impurities and phosphorus noting that consumption of fruits containing these impurities may cause cancer, heart, kidney, and liver failure.”Irritation of the mouth, nose, eye, and skin, permanent skin damage, vomiting, difficulty in swallowing, sore throat, shortness of breath, and numbness are some of the other health hazards associated with coming in contact with carbide or ingesting any food item that are ripened with  the chemical.”

The agency warned that fruits ripened with carbide lack nutrients are poisonous because according to the regulatory agency, fruit ripening is a unique aspect of plant development that makes the fruit edible, softer, sweeter, nutritious, and attractive stating that  consuming any fruit ripened with calcium carbide is dangerous to health.

The Hope spoke with some of the fruit sellers but they were reluctant to comment on the issue while most of the consumers who spoke with  said that they were not aware of using carbide to force fruits to ripe until recently when they heard from the news.

They appealed to the authorities concerned to take urgent steps to address the issue and bring to book.

A civil servant, Mrs Busayo Alade, who was once a victim culprits explained her ordeal, “I went to the market and bought ripe plantains of N2000 because my children like fried plantains. After frying the plantains, I gave them to the two of them who were around and kept the remaining for others. Not quite long after eating the “dodo” one of them rushed to the toilet vomiting as I was attending to her, the second one developed stomach pain.

“I was confused and I called my neighbour who helped me with his car and took them to the hospital. It was at the hospital that the doctor discovered the fried plantains they ate were contaminated. Since then, I never go to the market to buy ripe plantains for them. Instead, I will buy the unripe one and keep it at home for it to ripe naturally.”

On the way out, she appealed to the Federal Government to make a law that would criminalize the use of chemicals to quicken the ripening process of fruits which she maintained was the only way forward as she added that nothing can be achieved in the country without putting in place stiff penalty.”What would have happened if my neighbour was not around to help me take my children to the hospital?

This is why governments at all levels must take urgent steps against the idea of making fast profits at the expense of people’s lives. Many who had consumed chemical-ripened fruits without knowing are battling with serious ailments. The three tiers of governments must act fast to save the lives of innocent Nigerians.

Sharing similar sentiment, a businessman, Mr Adewole Clement condemned the act in strong terms likening it to feeding unsuspecting buyers with poison, and called on relevant agencies in the State to treat it as a matter of urgency, he said.

“Why is it that some people are making money at the expense of other people’s lives? That to me is murder and anyone found guilty of this wicked act should be treated as such. If fruits pass through the natural process of ripening, it is not only nutritious but will also give the body the needed vitamins.

” The most painful aspect of it is that our vegetables are also contaminated with fertilizers used in planting them so that they can be harvested on time and also look attractive to consumers without knowing that we are eating poison.

The knowledge that fruits and vegetables are good components of a balanced diet makes many citizens key into them without being aware that most of them are poisonous due to chemicals applied in them when planting or quickening the ripening process. There is a need for public awareness on this issue because it concerns everybody and most consumers are ignorant of what they are consuming.

“All they think about is going to the market and buying vegetables and fruits for good health thus fulfilling the Doctor’s advice. But now that the fruits and vegetables are being contaminated with chemicals, there is a need for public education on this harmful development especially on how to differentiate the fake from the original. NAFDAC should lead the campaign against this deadly act by educating the people on the dangers of consuming chemical-ripened fruits and how to differentiate between them.

“I will not be surprised if this is the reason why most citizens of this country are battling with different health challenges. At times, when you eat some fruit, it will be tasteless, but now, I understand better. NAFDAC should not only stop at educating the public, they should go further to those selling fruits and vegetables and arrest those discovered to be engaging in using carbide to force fruits to ripe and those selling vegetables grown with fertilizers. If these are done, they will send a warning to others in the business, correct the idea, and improve the quality of life of Nigerians.

“Consumers should also be told to report any of such cases to the nearest NAFDAC office for immediate action. If sellers are aware that they can be reported to NAFDAC by the consumers, it will also go a long way to address the trend of using chemicals to ripen fruits. NAFDAC should also release some telephone numbers that the general public can call if such a situation is discovered anywhere across the country for immediate action. Taking these steps will go a long way to correct the bad act because consuming contaminated fruits and vegetables is deadly.

A teacher, Mrs Joy Chika, while calling on NAFDAC to swing into action immediately said that efforts should not be spared towards ensuring that all foods, drinks, and drugs taken in the country are properly monitored and certified healthy for human consumption.

“Concentration should not only be on fruits and vegetables alone, even most of the energy booster drinks in different shops today affects the heart and these are favourite drink of most youths.”

Chika, who appealed to parents to be watchful while shopping for fruits and other food items revealed that those fruits forced to ripe with the aid of chemicals have no nutritional value and instead expose one’s health to serious and avoidable hazards.”I bought a banana in one of the markets in Akure and when I was about to give my children, I noticed some whitish substances on it, immediately I knew it was one of those already poisoned fruits brought to the market for sale. While this sign is not easily discovered in other fruits, very observant consumers can easily discover it in plantains and bananas by checking the handle for a whitish substance.”

On the way forward, she appealed to the Federal Government, NAFDAC, the Minister of Health, and relevant agencies to come together and strategize so that innocent souls can be saved from what she termed human wickedness to fellow humans. She also urged authorities concerned to make use of mass media to educate the general public against buying chemical ripening fruits and make a law against the act so that anyone caught in the act will be made to face the wrath of the law.