Woman arrested over sale of unapproved fruit-ripening chemicals

A woman suspected of selling unapproved chemicals allegedly used to artificially ripen bananas and plantains has been arrested at the Madina Market in the Greater Accra Region.

The arrest was carried out yesterday, Tuesday, August 18, by the Madina-La Nkwantanang Municipal Assembly task force, in collaboration with the Madina Police and the Assembly’s Environmental Health Unit.

The operation followed concerns raised by traders over the alleged use of unapproved substances to accelerate the ripening of fruits sold to consumers.

The woman, whose identity has been withheld, was identified during the operation as being involved in the sale of the substances. She was subsequently taken into police custody for questioning and further investigations.

The development follows the Municipal Assembly’s engagement with traders at the Madina Market on Wednesday, August 12, as part of efforts to understand their concerns and address challenges affecting their businesses.

During the engagement, some traders raised concerns about the alleged use of unapproved substances to ripen farm produce, particularly bananas and plantains.

Following the complaints, the Assembly’s Environmental Health Unit, acting on the directive of the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Ibrahim Fialla, and with support from the Madina Police, conducted the operation at the market.

Speaking on the development, Fialla said the Assembly would intensify its monitoring of the market and conduct an extensive search to identify persons involved in the sale or use of unapproved substances.

He said the exercise would also involve educating traders about the potential dangers associated with using substances that had not been approved for use on food.

Fialla 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 were identified and addressed.

Some traders expressed concern that the alleged practice might not be limited to the Madina Market.

They called on the Municipal Assembly and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) to expand surveillance of fruit markets and take proactive measures to prevent the sale and use of potentially harmful substances.

The trader who first raised the alarm also disclosed that her son had reportedly fallen ill after eating bananas suspected to have been treated with the substance.

According to her, the child received medical treatment and has since been discharged.

However, there is no indication at this stage that the illness has been scientifically linked to the suspected substance. Any such connection would have to be established through appropriate medical and laboratory investigations.

The FDA has also assured the public that measures are being taken to address the situation.

Food safety experts have repeatedly cautioned against using chemicals that have not been approved for use on food.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) considers chemicals in food a global public health concern and says substances deliberately added to food should undergo appropriate safety assessments before being approved for specific uses.

One substance that has attracted particular attention in the context of artificial fruit ripening is calcium carbide, which can generate acetylene gas.

Food safety authorities have warned against using calcium carbide to ripen fruit due to potential health risks and the risk of contamination with harmful impurities.

Guidance from India’s Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), for instance, 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, and dizziness, although the effects depend on the substance involved, the level of exposure, and individual circumstances.

It is important, however, to distinguish between controlled and approved fruit-ripening technology and the misuse of industrial or unapproved chemicals.

Ethylene, a naturally occurring plant hormone, plays a role in fruit ripening, and the controlled use of approved ethylene-based processes is recognised in some food safety systems.

The concern, therefore, is not fruit ripening itself, but the use of prohibited substances or the incorrect application of otherwise approved products.

Food safety concerns involving fruits and vegetables can also arise from the use of unapproved pesticides or excessive pesticide residues, unauthorised colouring agents, chemical preservatives, and the application of agricultural or industrial chemicals directly to food.

The WHO notes that food can become contaminated through chemicals deliberately added to food as well as through environmental and agricultural sources. National food safety authorities are therefore expected to establish permissible uses and limits and monitor compliance.

Consumers are advised to purchase fruits and other food products from reputable sources and to be cautious of produce that appears unusually altered in colour, texture, smell or ripening pattern.

Appearance alone, however, cannot reliably establish whether a fruit has been treated with a harmful chemical.

Consumers should not attempt 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.

Health professionals generally advise people 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.

People 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 to use only substances specifically approved for use in food and for the particular application, and to handle them strictly according to approved instructions.

The WHO emphasises that food additives and similar substances must undergo a safety assessment before being authorised for specific uses.

The Madina-La Nkwantanan Municipal Assembly’s planned market-wide exercise is expected to provide further clarity on the extent of the alleged practice, the identity of the substance involved, and whether other traders may be engaged in similar activities.

Until the investigations and any laboratory analyses are completed, the public is urged to remain vigilant but avoid speculation.

Consumers should also not assume that all bananas or plantains sold at the Madina Market or elsewhere have been chemically treated.

Authorities are expected to communicate their laboratory findings and enforcement actions clearly to the public to help prevent misinformation and unnecessary panic.