Most people do not hesitate to wash fruits or vegetables before eating them with shell. But what happens when foods are peeled or cut without prior washing? The answer may surprise. According to virologist Océane Sorel, this simple gesture may be making way to food poisoning and other health complications, especially in more vulnerable groups such as children or the elderly.
The alert was released by the expert through an Instagram account video, where he explains why all vegetables, even those who will be peeled, is a measure of essential precaution. According to Océane Sorel, after being harvested, fruits and vegetables carry pesticide waste, dirt, animal feces and other potentially dangerous microorganisms.
The knife as a contamination vehicle
The expert explains that by cutting a food without washing it, the movement of the knife drags the dirty of the shell to the interior of the food, exposing the pulp to possible contamination. This applies to potatoes, carrots and even larger fruits like melon or melon.
Although some microbes are harmless, others are at the source of gastroenteritis episodes or even food poisoning. This is why, according to the same source, to wash food, regardless of whether they are consumed with or without shell, it is a basic measure of food safety.
The exceptions (and the fruits of the season)
Not all cases require the same care. The virologist admits that fruits such as banana, which are rarely cut with the shell, have lower risk. However, summer fruits such as melon, watermelon or melon should always be washed before cut, even if the shell will not be consumed.
Océane Sorel also argues that this type of prevention becomes more relevant when it comes to preparing foods for young children, the elderly or people with the compromised immune system.
Wash is not enough? Chinese study leaves another warning
A group of researchers at Anhui Agricultural University in China warns that in many cases water washing is not enough to eliminate toxic pesticide waste. The study, published in the scientific journal Nano Letters of the American Chemical Society, reveals that the chemicals used in agriculture can penetrate the outer layer of fruits such as the apple, becoming harder to remove.
According to the authors of the investigation, even after washed, apples maintain pesticide concentrations that are only removed by eliminating part of the shell and exposed pulp. For those who consume these foods regularly, researchers recommend peeling or buying fruits of biological origin, whenever possible.
The bark can have another destination
In addition to food security, the use of organic remains for sustainable purposes is gaining prominence. According to Chris Bonnett, gardening expert heard by the British Daily Mail newspaper, banana peels are an excellent source of potassium and other nutrients that can strengthen plants and protect them from pests.
For the gardening platform, turning food waste into a natural fertilizer is a simple and effective way to improve garden health and reduce environmental impact.
In short, washing fruit and vegetables is an essential practice, even if it will not eat the shell. And in some cases, the bark should be discarded. Expert recommendations and new scientific data indicate that this gesture can make all the difference between a safe meal and an unexpected stomach pain.
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