The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has warned the public against using chemicals to ripen mangoes artificially.
In a statement, the regulatory body stated that it had become aware of a video on social media showing the usage of calcium carbide to hasten mango ripening.
It said the video also demonstrates how to distinguish between naturally ripened and chemically ripened mangoes.
Following the video, the FDA said it carried out several tests and the sample in Ghanaian markets showed no presence of calcium carbide.
“The FDA wishes to inform the public that calcium carbide is toxic and that using it to quicken the ripening of fruits is hazardous to consumers and therefore criminal,” the statement said.
Additionally, the FDA said that the “floating” test demonstrated in the video as a reliable method to differentiate between naturally and chemically ripened mangoes lacks scientific validity.
Below is the full statement
