NAFDAC Warns Against Using Carbide To Ripen Fruits
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sent stern warning to fruit sellers who use carbide to ripen fruits
NAFDAC said it is set to clamp down on such perpetrators.
Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, who disclosed this at a media sensitisation workshop organised by the agency on the dangers of drug hawking and ripening of fruits with carbide in Lagos.
Adeyeye, represented by the Director of Chemical Evaluation and Research, Dr. Leonard Omokpariola, warned that the Agency is all out to deal with perpetrators of such dastardly act, which she lamented, poses great danger to the health of the citizens.
The NAFDAC DG stressed that consumption of fruits preserved with carbide is hazardous to health and could cause cancer, kidney, liver failure, or weakness of the immune system.
Adeyeye also expressed worry that most drugs sold by hawkers are counterfeit, substandard and often expired and do not meet the requirements of regulated medicine
“Drug hawkers prescribe medicines to their gullible patients. They are also major distributors of narcotics medicines to armed bandits, armed robbers, insurgents and kidnappers. They constitute a serious threat to our national security,” she said, adding that any drug hawker arrested by NAFDAC would be prosecuted and be made to face a jail term.
“We solicit the support of other law enforcement agencies in ridding the country of this harmful and shameful practice. The war is on and we must fight it together,” she said. Adeyeye further said that the agency would continue to engage the media in tackling the ripening of fruits with carbide.
Contributing Dr. Abubakar Jimoh, Director, Public Affairs, NAFDAC, highlighted that drugs are sensitive life-saving commodities, that should not be sold on the streets/ motor parks or open markets, but should be handled with care.
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