ARTIFICIALLY RIPENED FRUITS POSE HEALTH RISKS – SENATOR ANI WARNS

By Wilson Ogbonnaya Okereke, Abakaliki

The Senator representing Ebonyi South Senatorial District, Senator Professor Anthony Okorie Ani, has raised alarm over the growing trend of artificially ripening fruits with harmful chemicals, describing the act as a looming public health crisis. Speaking to newsmen on July 17, 2025, shortly after a public hearing on his motion against the use of chemical ripening agents in Nigeria, Senator Ani stressed that the practice poses serious health threats to consumers nationwide. He noted that the use of substances such as ethylene, calcium carbide, and other chemical agents to ripen fruits has attracted increasing concern from public health experts. He urged stakeholders present at the hearing to contribute meaningfully to efforts aimed at eradicating the dangerous trend. “The essence of this motion is to put an end to a harmful practice that threatens everyone’s health—regardless of race, tribe, or religion,” Senator Ani stated. He further called on relevant regulatory bodies, especially the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), to intensify efforts in monitoring and curbing the act. He also appealed to fruit vendors to desist from using harmful chemicals, warning that the continued use of such substances endangers public health. It would be recalled that Senator Ani had previously sponsored a motion seeking to criminalize the use of hazardous chemicals—particularly calcium carbide—in fruit ripening processes. In response to his advocacy, the Senate has resolved to mandate NAFDAC and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to investigate the rising incidence of chemically ripened fruits. The investigation will assess the health risks associated with the practice, including its links to cancer, kidney failure, and other life-threatening conditions.