A woman has been arrested at the Madina Market for allegedly selling unapproved chemicals suspected to be used to artificially ripen bananas and plantains.
The arrest was made on Tuesday by a task force from the Madina-La Nkwantanang Municipal Assembly, in collaboration with the Madina Police and the Environmental Health Unit.
The operation followed concerns raised by traders over the alleged use of unapproved substances to speed up the ripening of fruits sold at the market.
The concerns were raised during an engagement between the Assembly and traders at the Madina Market on Wednesday, August 12.
Some traders alleged that chemicals were being used to ripen farm produce, particularly bananas and plantains, prompting the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Ibrahim Fialla, to direct the Environmental Health Unit to investigate.
Speaking on the development, Mr Fialla said the Assembly would intensify monitoring and conduct a wider search of the market to identify and deal with anyone found selling or using unapproved substances.
He said the planned exercise would also seek to determine the extent of the alleged practice and remove any unapproved substances found.
The MCE added that the exercise would include education for traders on the dangers associated with using unapproved chemicals on food.
The trader who initially raised the alarm also claimed that her son fell ill after eating bananas suspected to have been treated with the substance.
She said the child received medical treatment and has since been discharged.
There is, however, no confirmed evidence linking the child’s illness to the suspected chemical. Such a connection would have to be established through appropriate medical and laboratory tests.
Some traders have expressed concern that the alleged practice could extend beyond the Madina Market and have called on the Assembly and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) to widen surveillance at fruit markets.
The MCE urged traders to remain calm and avoid actions that could create unnecessary fear and panic among consumers.
He stressed the importance of cooperation between traders, environmental health officers, the police and other relevant agencies in identifying and addressing potentially unsafe practices.
The FDA has also assured the public that measures are being taken to address the concerns.
Until investigations and any laboratory tests are completed, consumers are being urged not to assume that all bananas or plantains sold at the Madina Market or elsewhere have been treated with chemicals.
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