ripen

National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has urged  fruit sellers to refrain from using calcium carbide to ripen fruits for commercial purpose.

The NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, made the call in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, saying that “using carbide to ripen fruits is dangerous for human health.”

Calcium carbide is a toxic and highly dangerous, corrosive chemical used industrially in the production of acetylene gas, which burns and produces light.

It has the potential to cause cancer and contain traces of phosphorous hydride and arsenic and when in contact with moist skin and …