Ghanaians express worry over the alleged use of chemicals in ripening mangoes
Some Ghanaians have registered displeasure with the alleged usage of calcium carbide chemicals in ripening mangoes, sold on the market.
After reports surfaced about the purported usage of chemicals in ripening mangoes, The Ghana Report interviewed some mango sellers at Odorkor, a suburb of Accra, who denied the act, citing that climate change could probably be a reason for the taste and colouring of the mangoes on the market.
“We have heard some people use chemicals to ripen their mangoes. We hear such claims from our buyers most of the time but we tell them that our fruits are straight from the farms therefore no one adds any chemicals to change the colour or the taste of the mangoes,” one of the mango sellers stated.
Another mango seller added,” It is not our fault. Even sometimes the farmers complain about the taste of the mangoes. We don’t know what the problem is but I think our actions contribute to the change in natural foods we see today”.
However, some Ghanaians in an interview refuted the claims of mango sellers not resorting to the use of chemicals, in ripening mangoes.
They condemned the act and called on the Food and Drugs Authority to intensify its swoop survey and testing initiative to arrest all those selling unhealthy mangoes on the market.
“I think that people must be very mindful of the health of the people they’re serving and not be so obsessed with money. This obsession with money at the expense of human life is inhumane and must be greatly condemned,” one interviewee noted with The Ghana Report.
Naa, a private teacher also noted that; “Those who use the chemical to aid quick ripening of fruits need to stop. Fruits have a natural tendency to ripen. Therefore, vendors need not use artificial means to quicken the ripening process as it may have health consequences for humans”.
Another person emphasized that; “The whole idea of using chemicals to ripen food or to prolong food life span is sickening and unhygienic and needs to be stopped. Those chemicals are poisonous to humans and contribute a lot to the high rate of kidney problems that are being recorded in the country. I think the Food and Drugs Authority(FDA) should take a keen interest in punishing people who engage in such acts”.
Health perspective
Rita Cobbinah, a registered general nurse with the SDA Hospital, located at Gbawe, Accra, also revealed that the use of calcium carbide for mangoes can cause “serious health issues like neurological disorders, ulcers hypoxia (an absence of enough oxygen in the tissues to sustain bodily functions) memory loss, liver damage, and even cancer”.
She also indicated that calcium carbide can irritate the skin causing rash, redness and a burning feeling on contact.
Additionally, she said, “Consuming fruits ripened with calcium carbide can cause acute health effects such as food poisoning, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhoea”.
She urged the public not to resort to calcium carbide to ripen any fruit due to its effects on the human body.
“For these reasons, health authorities and experts strongly advise against the use of calcium carbide for fruit ripening. Instead, consumers should opt for naturally ripened fruits or fruits ripened using safer methods, such as ethylene gas, which is approved by food safety regulations and does not pose the same health risks as calcium carbide. Prioritizing the safety and health of consumers is crucial when it comes to food consumption”.
Meanwhile, the FDA has launched a comprehensive survey and testing targeting mangoes from major markets and sales points nationwide.
READ ALSO: FDA Cautions Public Against Artificial Ripening Of Mangoes
The initiative is to educate the public about the dangers of chemical ripening and how perpetrators can be made to face the law.
Currently, results from tested samples by the FDA showed no presence of calcium carbide, a statement released by the authority on April 17, 2024 highlighted.