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Never buy a cut watermelon , especially when it looks too red to be real
Full-blown summer is here, and with the warm temperature comes the sweet and delicious watermelon. A great source of antioxidants and nutrients, watermelon is more than 90 per cent water and is a great way to hydrate. But the markets today are loaded with adulterated fruit, which can be more of a bane than a boon.
According to many viral videos on social media, watermelons are being sweetened artificially and injected with red colour—loaded with preservatives—which is harmful to your health. A video posted as a part of a social experiment demonstrates the same practice. The clip posted on a YouTube channel shows a man injecting chemicals into a watermelon as a part of this experiment.
What chemicals are used to adulterate watermelon?
Chemicals added to a watermelon not only make the fruit sweeter but also extend its shelf life. However, a few, like erythrosine B - a red food dye—have been linked to serious potential side effects like gastrointestinal issues, which include nausea, vomiting, diarrohea, and, in some cases, mental health issues like behavioural changes in children, hives, skin rashes, dizziness, chills, cough, blisters, and even thyroid dysfunction.
Apart from watermelon, erythrosine B is also used in a variety of food products, including candied cherries, cocktail cherries, bigarreaux cherries in syrup, cocktails, and popsicles; cake decorating gels; sports drinks; cream biscuits, gems, candies, and other condiments.
Also, calcium carbide - a common chemical—is used for artificially ripening fruits, which produces acetylene gas that mimics the natural ripening process and can have harmful effects on health. The acetylene gas released by calcium carbide is packed with toxic substances like phosphorous hydride and arsenic that lead to various side effects like vomiting, weakness, skin ulcers, and neurological problems like headache and memory loss.
Ways to identify adulterated watermelons
To pick out an adulterated watermelon, or one injected with chemicals, you need to follow these easy steps:
- At first, never buy a cut fruit, especially when it looks too red to be real.
- Also, you can do a simple test. For that, you need a cotton ball and a watermelon. Cut the fruit into two halves and rub a cotton ball on the red part of one piece. If you find any colour change in the ball—which means it turns red—then it is contaminated and unsafe for consumption.
- Also, if the watermelon feels soft in one spot and firm elsewhere, it could be a sign of tampering.
- If you see unusual cracks on the rind of the watermelon, it means the fruit has been injected with chemicals.
How to pick a naturally sweet watermelon?
To avoid getting scammed and to pick a naturally sweet and red watermelon, do follow these tips:
- Always pick up round watermelons, which would be sweet. The elongated ones are more watery and tasteless.
- The outer skin of a ripe watermelon should be dark and ma Make sure to never pick up the shiny ones.
- Look for an orange spot on the outer skin of the watermelon to determine its flavour. Whereas, the ones with a white field spot are usually considered tasteless.
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