Chemical ripening of plantains: A danger we must not ignore

The warning by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) against the indiscriminate use of chemicals to accelerate the ripening of plantains and other fruits and vegetables must be taken seriously.

The caution follows a viral video purportedly showing plantains being ripened with chemicals at the Madina Market.

Preliminary investigations by the FDA, in collaboration with the Environmental Health Unit of the La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipal Assembly, identified the product reportedly used as Ethemax, a plant growth regulator which the FDA said was harmful to human health and public safety.

For The Ghanaian Times, this development raises a broader concern about food safety and the need for stronger enforcement of regulations governing agricultural chemicals.

The issue is not simply about how quickly plantains ripen. It is about what consumers are being exposed to without their knowledge and whether the systems designed to protect the public are working effectively.

The FDA has explained that inappropriate use of chemicals can include applying incorrect concentrations or using chemicals on commodities for which they are not authorised.

Such practices can leave unacceptable chemical residues and compromise food safety.

That is a serious warning in a country where millions of people depend on fruits and vegetables as part of their daily diet.

While the FDA has indicated that it is taking appropriate regulatory action against persons involved in the unauthorised sale, distribution and use of the chemical product, enforcement must go beyond the immediate incident at Madina.

The Authority, municipal assemblies and other relevant agencies must intensify inspections of markets, farms, food-processing facilities and points of sale where agricultural chemicals may be misused.

There is also a need to examine how such products get into the hands of traders and other persons who may not understand their proper application.

Where chemicals are approved for agricultural use, their labels and conditions of use must be clear, and users must be properly educated.

At the same time, those who deliberately misuse chemicals or sell them for unauthorised purposes must face the full force of the law.

Food safety regulations cannot be effective if violations are met with little or no consequence.

The incident also exposes the importance of consumer vigilance.

The public should buy fruits and vegetables from trusted sources, wash them thoroughly with potable water and report suspected unsafe practices to the FDA.

But consumers cannot carry the burden alone. Washing produce is not a substitute for proper regulation, surveillance and enforcement.

The authorities must also improve public education. Farmers, traders, food vendors and consumers need to know which chemicals are approved, what they can be used for and the risks associated with misuse. Ignorance cannot be allowed to become a pathway to poisoning the public.

The Ghanaian Times therefore calls on the FDA and the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies to strengthen market surveillance and ensure that the investigation into the Madina incident is concluded promptly. The outcome should be made public and appropriate sanctions applied where wrongdoing is established.

We further urge the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the FDA and other relevant agencies to strengthen coordination in regulating agricultural chemicals from the point of importation and distribution to their use on farms and in markets.

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