Chemical injected watermelons!
With everything fake and disguised all around us, it is almost impossible to find out the genuine ones.
Even in seasonal fruits like watermelon, adulterants are mixed to increase shelf life, sweetness and mostly red color of the pulp.
One of the most toxic dyes used in watermelon is Erythrosine. This is a pink dye and is mostly used in food coloring. The FSSAI or the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has a detailed video on how to detect this adulterant in watermelon.
In the video the food regulator advises to cut the watermelon into two halves and check the dye by dabbing a cotton ball on the pulp. If the cotton ball turns red it means the fruit has been adulterated with the chemical dye.
Erythrosine can affect nervous system
A study on the effect of erythrosine on zebrafish embryo development had found that long term use of this dye can alter childhood behavior, thyroid function among other critical complications.
The 2019 study titled “Toxic Effects of Food Colorants Erythrosine and Tartrazine on Zebrafish Embryo Development” by researchers at Daulat Ram College and Sansriti Foundation said that “a higher intake of erythrosine and tartrazine is shown to exhibit adverse effects in mammalian models, and is thus a matter of public health concern.”
Carbide is added to ripen it quickly
Carbide is commonly used in fruits by marketers who buy it from farmers when they are underdeveloped and forcefully ripen them in order to profit from them.
White powdery substances on the watermelon which appears to be white dust is actually carbide. If you notice carbide on the fruit, as it is also used in mangoes and bananas too, clean it properly before cutting it.
Know the possible side effects of consuming carbides
This is extremely toxic in nature and excess amounts of it can be very harmful to human beings.
It can cause headache, skin rashes, and can also harm the lungs. It affects the nervous system of the body and causes delirium, seizure and can also induce coma.
Avoid buying off-season fruits
Health experts have urged people not to buy fruits and vegetables which are not available in the season.
When there is a demand and sometimes to create a demand, sellers forcefully grow and ripen the foods using chemicals. The chemicals when consumed are most likely to cause complications.
Even when buying seasonal fruits and vegetables, always wash them properly before cutting them. Check for the freshness of the food before buying.
With inputs from TOI
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
