NAFDAC threatens crackdown on adulterated foods

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has threatened sanctions against traders who use unauthorised chemicals to ripen fruits and those selling adulterated canned foods, warning of the potential risks to public health.

The agency said it was intensifying public sensitisation, market surveillance and enforcement across the South-East to curb the sale and consumption of unsafe food products.

NAFDAC Coordinator in Anambra State, Dr Louis Madubuatta, disclosed this in Awka, saying the agency would begin targeting defaulters who failed to comply with approved food safety regulations after ongoing public awareness campaigns.

“The ongoing public sensitisation against the use of chemicals for fruit ripening and sale of adulterated canned food is part of our measures to safeguard public health.

“We have been doing this for years, but will go after defaulters who fail to comply with laid down sales protocols after the sensitisation,” he said.

Madubuatta warned that consuming improperly ripened fruits and adulterated canned foods could expose people to serious health risks.

He said NAFDAC was using text messages and mass media campaigns to educate the public on the dangers associated with artificial fruit ripening.

The coordinator added that the agency was collaborating with other government bodies to restrict the availability of calcium carbide and other chemicals used for unauthorised fruit ripening.

However, a retired Director of Medical Services at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Dr Emmanuel Umenweke, cautioned against linking kidney disease solely to artificially ripened fruits or adulterated canned foods without sufficient scientific evidence.

He said kidney disease had multiple causes and that not all artificially ripened fruits were dangerous, noting that ethylene was an approved ripening agent when used appropriately.

Umenweke identified calcium carbide as a major concern because industrial-grade products could contain contaminants, including arsenic and phosphorus compounds.

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He warned that improper use of the chemical to ripen fruits could expose consumers to acute poisoning, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and dizziness.

In Ebonyi State, NAFDAC said it had strengthened surveillance to check the use of unauthorised fruit-ripening chemicals and the circulation of adulterated canned foods.

The state coordinator, Mr Emeka Orajiaka, said the measures were aimed at addressing concerns over the safety of food products sold in markets, shops and other outlets.

He said the agency was intensifying routine market inspections, product sampling, laboratory testing and enforcement to identify and prevent the circulation of unsafe food products.