The Madina-La Nkwantanang Municipal Assembly’s taskforce, in collaboration with the Madina Police and the Environmental Health Unit, arrested a woman on August 18, 2023, for allegedly selling unapproved chemicals used to artificially ripen bananas and plantains at the Madina Market.
This action followed complaints from traders about the use of these unapproved substances to accelerate the ripening process of fruits sold to consumers. Ibrahim Fialla, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the Madina-La Nkwantanang Municipal Assembly, stated that the Assembly will enhance its monitoring efforts and conduct thorough searches of the market to identify and address those involved in the sale or use of such unapproved substances.
This development came after the Assembly engaged with traders at the Madina Market on August 12, 2023, to better understand their concerns and the challenges they face in their businesses. During this meeting, some traders expressed worries about the use of unapproved chemicals to ripen farm produce, particularly bananas and plantains.
Responding to these complaints, the Environmental Health Unit, following the MCE’s directive and with support from the Madina Police, carried out an operation at the market on August 18. A woman, whose identity is being withheld, was identified as allegedly being involved in the sale of the substances. She was subsequently taken into police custody for questioning and further investigations.
Concerns extend beyond Madina Market
Some traders who spoke to us, however, expressed concern that the alleged practice may not be limited to the Madina Market. They are therefore calling on the Assembly and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) to expand surveillance of fruit markets and take proactive measures to prevent the use and sale of potentially harmful substances.
The trader who first raised the alarm also disclosed that her son reportedly became ill after eating bananas suspected to have been treated with the substance. According to her, the child has since received medical treatment and has been discharged.
However, there is currently no indication that the illness has been scientifically linked to the suspected substance, and health authorities would need to establish such a connection through appropriate medical and laboratory investigations.
Health concerns over unsafe fruit ripening
Food-safety experts have repeatedly cautioned against the use of chemicals that have not been approved for use in food. The World Health Organization says chemicals in food are a global public-health concern and that substances added to food must undergo appropriate safety assessment before they are approved for specific uses. One substance that has attracted particular attention in relation to artificial fruit ripening is calcium carbide, which can generate acetylene gas. Food-safety authorities have warned against its use for ripening fruits because of potential health risks and the possibility of contamination with harmful impurities.
Guidance from India’s Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), for example, states that carbide or acetylene gas is not permitted for artificial fruit ripening and warns that calcium carbide may leave arsenic and phosphorus residues on fruits. Reported health effects associated with exposure to calcium-carbide-related contaminants can include mouth irritation or ulcers, gastric irritation, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and other symptoms, depending on the substance, level of exposure and individual circumstances. FSSAI has also warned about the risks to people handling such chemicals.
It is important, however, to distinguish between controlled and approved fruit-ripening technology and the misuse of industrial or unapproved chemicals. Ethylene, for instance, is a naturally occurring plant hormone involved in the ripening of fruits, and controlled use of approved ethylene-based processes is recognized in some food-safety systems. The concern is the use of prohibited substances or the incorrect application of otherwise approved products.
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Other unsafe practices
Food-safety concerns surrounding fruits and vegetables can also involve practices such as the use of unapproved pesticides or excessive pesticide residues, unauthorized colouring agents, chemical preservatives, and the application of agricultural or industrial chemicals directly onto food.
The WHO notes that food can become contaminated through chemicals deliberately added to food as well as through environmental and agricultural sources. This is why national food-safety authorities are expected to establish permissible uses and limits and monitor compliance.
Consumers are therefore advised to buy fruits and other food products from reputable sources and to avoid produce that appears unusually altered in colour, texture, smell or ripening pattern. However, appearance alone cannot reliably establish whether a fruit has been treated with a harmful chemical.
Consumers should also avoid attempting to wash, neutralise or chemically treat suspected contaminated produce themselves. Where there is a serious concern, the safer approach is to stop consuming the product and report it to the appropriate food-safety authority.
Speaking on the development, MCE Ibrahim Fialla said the Assembly would undertake a major search of the market as part of efforts to identify and remove unapproved products from circulation.
He said the exercise would also involve educating traders on the potential dangers associated with the use of unapproved substances.
Hon. Fialla also called for calm among traders and urged them to avoid actions that could create unnecessary fear and panic among members of the public.
He stressed the need for cooperation between traders, environmental health officers, the police and other relevant authorities to ensure that potentially unsafe practices are identified and addressed.
FDA expected to intensify monitoring
The Food and Drugs Authority has also issued a statement assuring the public that measures are being taken to address the situation. Until such investigations are completed, consumers are advised not to assume that all bananas or plantains sold at Madina Market or elsewhere have been chemically treated.
Authorities are also encouraged to communicate their laboratory findings and enforcement actions clearly to the public to prevent misinformation and unnecessary panic.
Health professionals generally advise consumers who develop persistent vomiting, severe abdominal pain, diarrhoea, dizziness, difficulty breathing, unusual weakness or other concerning symptoms after eating suspected contaminated food to seek prompt medical attention and inform healthcare providers about what they consumed.
Consumers should not attempt to treat suspected chemical poisoning with home remedies or induce vomiting unless specifically instructed by a qualified health professional.
For traders and food handlers, the key precaution is simple: only use substances that are specifically approved for use in food and for the intended application. These substances should be handled strictly according to the approved instructions. The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes that food additives and similar substances must undergo a safety assessment before being authorized for specific uses.
The Madina-LaNkwantanan Municipal Assembly’s planned market-wide exercise is expected to provide more clarity on the extent of the alleged practices, the identity of the substances involved, and whether other traders may be participating in similar activities. In the meantime, the public is urged to remain vigilant but to avoid speculation until the ongoing investigations and any laboratory analyses are completed.
Source: Joseph Armstrong Gold-Alorgbey
