The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is right to have expressed concern over dangers of drug hawking and ripening of fruits with calcium carbide. The health risks and dangers inherent in the unwholesome practices are manifest and deserve even stricter actions by NAFDAC and other relevant agencies of government, to drive home the message. Of utmost importance is the need for fruit consumers and drug purchasers to observe due diligence in their transactions, as these are laced with potential danger. Avoiding the sellers of these harmful materials is key to staying safe.
Notably, the agency has been having a series of sensitisation across the country against drug hawking and the disingenuous use of calcium carbide in ripening fruits. According to NAFDAC, drugs are sensitive life-saving commodities, which should not be sold on the streets, motor parks or open markets just like any other article of trade. The Agency said that “Many drug hawkers are knowingly or unknowingly merchants of death, who expose essential and life-saving medicines to the vagaries of inclement weather which degrade the active ingredients of the medicine and turn them to poisons thus endangering human lives.”
In addition, most of the drugs sold by the drug hawkers are counterfeit, substandard or expired, and therefore do not meet the quality, safety and efficacy requirement of regulated medicines.
On calcium carbide, it poses substantial health hazards because of arsenic, lead particles and phosphorous traces found in it which cause several health hazards such as cancer, heart, kidney and liver failure, neurological disorders, intestinal problems, skin damage, mouth ulcers, etc. Calcium carbide is a carcinogen that can also cause neurological problems.
Consuming fruits ripened with Calcium carbide are exceedingly harmful to one’s health, especially the neurological system. Acetylene, which is produced from carbide, limits the amount of oxygen available to the brain. It causes headache, vertigo, disorientation, delirium, seizures and even coma in its early stages. It has the potential to cause mood swings and memory loss in the long run.
Also, abdominal discomfort, vomiting and diarrhoea have been reported after intake of fruits ripened with Calcium carbide. Skin burns, allergies and jaundice are some of the other negative effects. Furthermore, artificial ripening has been reported to have negative effects on the nutritive value of fruits which can reduce the nutritional quality of the fruits, thereby causing essential nutrient deficiencies to the consumers with the consequence negative impact on their health.
Fruits artificially ripened with calcium carbide may be ripe on the skin but remain unripe inside; they do not possess uniform colour, are less juicy than when ripened naturally and have comparatively shorter shelf life.
While NAFDAC has commissioned a scientific study on the best approach towards mitigating the health hazards posed by ripening of fruits with carbides and commenced a nationwide crackdown on hawkers of drugs, medicine and those engaged in ripening of fruits with calcium carbide not discounting enforcement through intelligence and raids in fruit markets that have resulted in seizures and destruction of illicit products; it is important to remind consumers about the Caveat emptor maxim – “let the buyer beware”, which is well suited to buying and selling in the open marketplace.
This is against the backdrop that the increasing complexity of modern commerce and sharp business practices of drug hawking and use of calcium carbide in ripening fruits have placed the buyer at a health disadvantage because of the two nefarious activities.
Essentially, any buyer purchasing fruits ripened with carbide does so at the person’s own risk as the transaction does not have any ‘express warranty’ in the contract. Hence, consumers should be sensitised to purchase fruits and vegetables only from known vendors and reputed stores or dealers well known to them, to be sure that the fruits are not ripened by using harmful substances. Consumers also have a duty to themselves to wash fruits thoroughly with running potable water before eating; and avoid fruits with black blotches on the skin as these fruits are likely ripened by acetylene gas produced from calcium carbide.
Beyond clamping down on the illegal use of calcium carbide, NAFDAC in conjunction with National Market Women’s Association should organise meetings to sensitise fruit traders on the dangers of unsafe ripening agents like calcium carbide; and the implications for the health of their family members, friends and the generality of Nigerians. They should also be mobilised, educated and exposed to the guidelines for ripening fruits naturally within four to six days if kept at room temperature. These include harvesting the fruits at optimum maturity, wrapping the fruits individually with paper or placing them in a paper bag; keeping the unripe fruit layers over paddy husk or wheat straws, and keeping the unripe fruits inside an airtight rice bin /container. These methods will entrap the use of calcium carbide in ripening fruits.
Thus, curbing and eradicating this practice is a collective responsibility and should be particularly complementary to NAFDAC’s upbeat and decisive steps such as sensitisation of the public through different media outlets and conduct of post-marketing surveillance on drugs and on-the-spot enforcement through intelligence and raids in fruit markets that have resulted in seizures and destruction of products. After all, the negative marking practices are still a reality to the public.
Citizens, market associations, NGOs, law enforcement agencies, journalists and relevant ministries, departments and agencies of government should collaborate with NAFDAC to sensitise and conscientise Nigerians to stem the dangerous tide of drug hawking and ripening of fruits with calcium carbide.
All said, the sharp business practice of hawking expired and substandard drugs and use of calcium carbide to ripen fruits is a war Nigerians must fight together because of their negative effects on human health.
