The Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has warned against harvesting fruits and other farm products before they rip naturally.
The FCCPC also decried using chemicals to ripen such fruits and farm products stressing that it is harmful and injurious to the health of anyone who consumes them and can even lead to death.
The assertion was made by the Ag Executive Vice Chairman of FCCPC, Dr. Adamu Ahmed Abdullahi during a One-day sensitization programme on forceful ripening of fruits, adulterated palm oil, contaminated meat and grains held in Bauchi on Tuesday.
Represented by the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics of the Commission, Dr. Nkechi Mba, the Ag EVC stressed that the Commission is committed to ensuring that the consumer gets value for his money on any products he purchases.
He, however, stressed that the Commission will ensure that no product is made hazardous to the health of the consumers saying that, “It is part of our mandate to ensure that consumers are protected against products that are injurious to their health conditions.”
Adamu Ahmed stated “Consumer health is our concern, the Act that established FCCPC mandates us to do so. When we consume unsafe, poor quality and substandard products, there are health implications because these adulterated products are very hazardous to the human body.”
He added that forceful ripened fruits using calcium carbide are very harmful to the body saying,” When we don’t allow fruits to ripe before harvesting them and we use chemicals to artificially ripen them, it can damage the stomach and the intestine, cause stomach ache and diarrhoea, it can affect the entire body system leading to dizziness or even convulsions.”
He added that “When artificial colours are added to palm oil or flavour, it lowers the quality of that food. We will make more profit from selling such food but people will die from what we have sold to them. People can have allergic reactions in their bodies, other parts of the body can be damaged.”
“When food, fruits are contaminated, they are harmful to the body, unwanted substances contaminate the air, water and other things, they are hazardous to our body. Recently, cholera is killing people, typhoid too, all these are caused by contaminated food and fruits,” he added.
Earlier in a welcome address, the Director, the Consumer and Business Education Department,
Yahaya Garba Kudan stated “Today, we gather here to address one of the pressing issues in our food industry, the forceful ripening of fruits,
adulterated palm oil, contaminated meat, and grains.”
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According to him, “These are issues that affect not only our health and well-being but also the integrity of our food supply chain. As we are all aware, food safety is one of your rights as a consumer and it is paramount to our collective health.”
He poured out that, “It is disturbing to note the increasing incidences of harmful practices in food production and processing. These practices not only pose significant health risks but also undermine consumer trust in the
food Industry.”
Yahaya Garba Kudan added that “The FCCPC Is committed to protecting consumers and ensuring that they have access to safe, high-quality food. This program is a testament to our dedication to educating and empowering consumers, farmers, vendors, and all stakeholders involved in
the food supply chain.”
He also stated that “Throughout today’s sessions, we will hear from experts who will share valuable insights on how to identify and prevent these harmful practices. We will learn about the dangers of forceful ripening, the risks of consuming adulterated palm oil, the
hazards of contaminated meat, and how to ensure the quality and safety of grains.”
“Our goal is to equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to make informed decisions and advocate for safer food practices in our communities.”
NIGERIAN TRIBUNE