The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has uncovered the use of calcium carbide, a hazardous industrial chemical, in the artificial ripening of fruits sold to consumers, warning that the practice poses grave health risks, particularly during the Ramadan fasting period.
The agency’s Coordinator in Sokoto State, Mr Abdulsalam Lawal, disclosed this on Thursday, cautioning fruit dealers and vendors to immediately desist from the illegal act or face regulatory sanctions.