Health

Consumers raise concerns as sellers use chemicals to ripen fruits

Published

3 years ago

May 12, 2023

Consumers raise concerns as sellers use chemicals to ripen fruits

There has been a growing concern among consumers of fruits and vegetables in Benue State following the discovery that some of the sellers use chemicals to ripen them to make quick sales and maximize profit without minding the health implications of the dangerous act.

It is suspected that the Shylock fruit dealers use chemicals such as calcium carbide on unripe fruits such as mangoes, bananas, pawpaw and apples to ripen them and give them out as ready for human consumption.

By so doing, unsuspecting consumers buy the fruits with delight and go home only to discover that they are not tasty despite appearing ripe and attractive on the surface. And, as this dangerous practice came to the fore recently, many fruit consumers have started developing cold feet about buying fruits and vegetables, which are produced in large quantities in Benue State.

While many consumers express worry over the rising danger of fruit ripening with chemicals, Arewa Voice gathered that health experts are also cautioning against the use of chemicals to ripen fruits, warning that it is dangerous to health as it could lead to cancer.

A medical expert, Dr. Jude Uwar, warned that those who resort to using chemicals to ripen fruits to make brisk businesses are indirectly killing their fellow beings. “This practice is injurious to the health of the direct consumers, and it is responsible for the high rate of cancer in society,” Uwar cautioned.

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A fruits trader in the popular Railway Fruit Market, clearly Makurdi’s biggest market, Mr. Agber Iorwuese, acknowledged that there had been reports of people resorting to artificial means to ripen fruits but that it had not been officially tabled before the market leaders. He said: “There have been a series of allegations of traders applying chemicals to ripen fruit like mangoes and bananas, but the truth is that such information is yet to be verified. In fact, in this railway market we have no record of such. But there have been reports that some people used to ripen the fruit from the source in the villages before bringing it to the market.

“We learned that sometimes the mangoes are plucked and kept for about two to three days before they are moved to the market. So one cannot say emphatically what happens there. But here in the market, it does not happen. But most times when mangoes are brought to the market, they are already ripe, and the unripe ones are not many. So one cannot tell the process it goes through in the villages; but here, we do not tolerate such. Last year we heard a report that Benue mangoes were being rejected and sent back from two Abuja markets over the issue, but we have not noticed it here in our market.

“Only two weeks ago, our chairlady came out and sounded the warning to all traders that such act would not be tolerated in the market. And I am sure everyone took the advice. I am sure she came out to sound the warning following fears being expressed in other quarters over the development, though we have not noticed it at the railway fruit market. And you know that a chemical like calcium carbide has odour and if you drop it here, anyone nearby will perceive the odour. So it is difficult to apply it here in the market. It might happen elsewhere, but not here. We also heard that they use it to ripen plantains and bananas too. We heard of a dealer who used the chemical to ripen his banana, and in no time it became soft and unnaturally ripe. And any banana you treat in that manner gets ripe but goes bad in less than four hours. So I advise my fellow traders to avoid the temptation of applying chemicals to food items because it is dangerous and it is not recommended by authorities. We must put an end to such practices because of the implications for human life.”

Related Topics:Chemicals Consumers fruits

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Nigeria to Receive Breakthrough HIV Prevention Drug This Month – NACA

Published

1 week ago

March 2, 2026

Trends Admin

Nigeria to Receive Breakthrough HIV Prevention Drug This Month – NACA

Nigeria is set to receive Lenacapavir, a groundbreaking HIV prevention drug, in March 2026, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has announced.

The agency disclosed that regulatory approval has been granted by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), clearing the way for the drug’s introduction and nationwide rollout. The confirmation was contained in a statement issued on Monday by Toyin Aderibigbe, Head of Public Relations at NACA.

Lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable HIV prevention drug, has demonstrated 100 percent effectiveness in preventing HIV infection during advanced clinical trials. Unlike daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) pills, the injectable medication is administered only twice a year, offering a more convenient and discreet prevention option.

NACA said the Federal Government has intensified preparations for the rollout of injectable PrEP in Nigeria, describing the initiative as a critical step toward reducing new HIV infections and strengthening national prevention strategies.

According to the agency, Lenacapavir will be made available at an affordable annual cost of about $40 per person, following voluntary licensing agreements with generic manufacturers. This pricing structure will apply across Nigeria and 119 other low- and middle-income countries, significantly expanding access to the drug.

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“The Government of Nigeria is advancing preparations for the introduction and rollout of lenacapavir as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). This underscores our commitment to strengthen HIV prevention and accelerate progress toward epidemic control,” the statement said.

As part of readiness efforts, NACA revealed that landscape and preparedness assessments have been completed in 10 states — Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Benue, Cross River, Ebonyi, Gombe, Kano, Kwara, Lagos, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) — alongside regulatory clearance by NAFDAC.

Nigeria currently has an estimated 1.9 million people living with HIV, with a national prevalence rate of 1.3 percent among adults aged 15 to 49. In 2021, the country recorded 74,000 new HIV infections and 51,000 AIDS-related deaths, according to official data.

Women aged 15 to 49 are more than twice as likely as men to be living with HIV, while the South-South region bears the highest burden, with an HIV prevalence rate of 3.1 percent.

Health authorities say the arrival of Lenacapavir in Nigeria could mark a major turning point in HIV prevention, particularly for high-risk populations, as the country intensifies efforts to achieve long-term epidemic control.

Nigeria to Receive Breakthrough HIV Prevention Drug This Month – NACA

Health

Popular Brain Supplement Amino Acid May Reduce Longevity in Men

Published

2 weeks ago

February 28, 2026

Trends Admin

Popular Brain Supplement Amino Acid May Reduce Longevity in Men

A massive study of more than 270,000 people has revealed that higher blood levels of tyrosine, a common amino acid found in protein-rich foods and popular focus-boosting supplements, are associated with shorter life expectancy in men. Researchers suggest that men with elevated tyrosine levels could live nearly one year less on average than those with lower levels, sparking questions about the long-term health effects of both diet and supplements.

The study, led by scientists from the University of Hong Kong and the University of Georgia, analyzed health, genetic, and biochemical data from participants in the UK Biobank, one of the largest population-based studies in the world. The researchers focused on tyrosine and phenylalanine, two amino acids essential to metabolism and neurotransmitter production, including dopamine, which plays a key role in mood, motivation, and cognitive performance.

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Using observational and genetic modeling techniques, the researchers found that while phenylalanine had no consistent effect on lifespan, tyrosine showed a clear and potentially causal link to reduced life expectancy in men. No similar association was observed in women, suggesting that biological and hormonal differences may influence how tyrosine affects aging in men versus women.

Scientists are still investigating why tyrosine might impact longevity. One possible explanation is insulin resistance, a risk factor for age-related diseases, which tyrosine may influence. Another theory involves stress-related neurotransmitters and hormonal pathways that may react differently in men, potentially explaining why the effect was sex-specific.

Although the study did not directly test tyrosine supplements, it raises questions about their long-term safety, particularly for men who may already have high systemic levels. Nutrition experts advise moderation and recommend monitoring protein intake. Common dietary sources of tyrosine include beef, pork, lamb, chicken, turkey, salmon, tuna, mackerel, shrimp, lobster, eggs, dairy, soy, whole grains, nuts, and seeds.

The researchers emphasized the need for further studies to confirm these findings, understand the mechanisms linking tyrosine to male longevity, and explore whether dietary or lifestyle interventions could safely reduce tyrosine levels and promote healthy aging.

Popular Brain Supplement Amino Acid May Reduce Longevity in Men

Health

Labour Unions Barricade NAFDAC Lagos Office Over Sachet Alcohol Ban

Published

2 weeks ago

February 26, 2026

Trends Admin

Labour Unions Barricade NAFDAC Lagos Office Over Sachet Alcohol Ban

Hundreds of workers and union members under the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association (FOBTOB) barricaded the NAFDAC office in Isolo, Lagos on Thursday, marking the seventh consecutive day of protests over the enforcement of the sachet alcohol ban. The demonstration disrupted normal operations, with protesters blocking access to the NAFDAC premises from early morning, chanting slogans such as “No work for us, no work for you”, and demanding the immediate reopening of sealed factories, depots, and warehouses nationwide. Police officers intervened mid-morning to restore access, but union leaders vowed to continue their action until all demands are met.

The protest stems from NAFDAC’s enforcement of the ban on sachet alcohol and 10cl PET bottled products, which has led to the closure of several indigenous factories, depots, and warehouses. Union leaders argue that entire facilities — including those producing lawful products — are being shut down unnecessarily, a move they describe as “calculated economic suffocation.” Anthony Oyaga, TUC Secretary, stated: “Across the country, indigenous manufacturing companies are being sealed. Factories are being shut down. Depots are being closed. Warehouses are being locked — including those containing other lawful products not connected to the targeted items.” Protesters warned that prolonged shutdowns are threatening livelihoods, affecting not only factory workers but also transporters, suppliers, distributors, market women, artisans, and logistics personnel. They stressed that such measures could push vulnerable youths into poverty, fuel social vices, and even pose national security risks if the situation persists.

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Union leaders, including FOBTOB National Secretary Jeffery Igein, emphasised that the protests would continue until the government addresses the economic fallout of factory closures and replaces strict enforcement with targeted regulatory measures. “We are not criminals. We are workers. We are producers. We are parents. We are taxpayers. We are Nigerians,” Igein said, stressing that the protests are peaceful and lawful.

NAFDAC, led by Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has maintained that it has not received any official directive from the federal government to suspend enforcement. The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare also affirmed that NAFDAC has the exclusive legal mandate to regulate food and drug products, including sachet alcohol. Despite this, union leaders continue to demand dialogue with policymakers and the reopening of factories, depots, and warehouses, arguing that blanket enforcement has caused unnecessary economic hardship.

The protests underscore ongoing tension in Nigeria between public health policies and economic livelihoods, highlighting the delicate balance regulators face in enforcing bans while preserving jobs and sustaining industries. Workers insist that they will maintain pressure until what they call economic strangulation is reversed and structured regulation replaces punitive closures.