14 Apr 2024 | 01:37pm IST
Consuming Watermelon in hot summer? Be Careful !
Chemically treated Watermelon often exhibits a deeper red hue and excessive sweetness post-cutting.
Team Herald
As summer sets in, temperatures steadily rise, prompting a shift towards including various fruits in our diet to cool the body and stay hydrated. Among these, watermelon emerges as a popular choice. Watermelon contains 92% water and 6% sugar making it ideal for combating the summer heat while providing essential fiber. However, an alarming practice surfaces that Injection of chemicals into watermelon during its cultivation, often to accelerate ripening.
One such chemical, Oxytocin is injected to hasten placental ripening, accentuated by the addition of Erythrosin B, lending the fruit a reddish hue. Consumption of chemically treated watermelon poses health risks, including thyroid issues associated with long-term Erythrosin exposure, and potential harm to the liver and kidneys from carbide usage. Furthermore, digestive disorders may arise, exacerbated by the introduction of nitrogen for premature ripening, along with other harmful chemicals like chromate, methanol yellow, and Sudan red to enhance the fruit's colour, raising concerns of food poisoning.
Detecting chemically treated watermelon proves challenging, prompting the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to release an informative video demonstration. By rubbing a cotton ball on the fruit's cut surface, consumers can discern the presence of chemicals.
Important measures must be taken when consuming Watermelon:
1: Inspect for white or yellow powder residue, potentially indicating carbide usage. Washing the fruit thoroughly before consumption helps mitigate this risk.
2: Chemically treated Watermelon often exhibits a deeper red hue and excessive sweetness post-cutting.
3: Look out for large cracks or holes, indicating potential chemical injection.
4: If an unusual or medicinal taste is detected, refrain from consuming the fruit, as it may pose health hazards.
5: Allow freshly purchased Watermelon 2 to 3 days; if white liquid oozes out, it signals chemical usage. If not, the fruit is safe to consume after this period.
