Sick and went to the emergency room because of eating “watermelon”, revealing the small mistake, ordinary fruit turned into poison
Warning: Emergency Room Visit Because of Eating Watermelon Reveals Mistake That Turned Ordinary Fruit Poisoned, Almost Turned Him Into a Murderer
Watermelon is a popular fruit to cool down during the summer. However, despite its delicious taste, there are some precautions that should not be overlooked. If eaten incorrectly, it can lead to serious illness or even be life-threatening.
According to reports from Sohu in China, there have been several warning cases regarding eating watermelon, such as:
- A middle-aged woman in Henan Province felt dizzy, nauseous and had diarrhea after eating just a few pieces of watermelon. She had to go to the hospital for emergency treatment, and it was discovered that the watermelon she had eaten might have been contaminated with nitrates or had rotted due to contamination.
- The Zhang family in Jilin Province ate watermelon that had been refrigerated for two days, and then started feeling sick in the middle of the night and was diagnosed with food poisoning gastroenteritis.
- Ms. Chen from Fuzhou developed a fever of 40.2°C after eating ice-cold watermelon that had been left overnight. She went into shock and lost consciousness due to salmonella infection, but fortunately, she was rescued in time.
These cases serve as a reminder to be careful about how to properly store and consume watermelon to avoid any disasters caused by momentary carelessness.
Why has watermelon become a dangerous food?
Although watermelon is sweet, juicy and refreshing, it can easily rot and become a breeding ground for bacteria. The main causes are as follows:
1. Improper storage
When watermelon is cut, the watermelon flesh is directly exposed to air, allowing pathogens to grow rapidly, especially at เล่น UFABET ผ่านมือถือ สะดวกทุกที่ ทุกเวลา room temperatures above 30°C. Within a few hours, watermelon may develop a foul smell or become sticky.
Recommendations: After cutting, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate immediately. Eat within 24 hours .
2. Cross-contamination from kitchen equipment
According to the advice of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Duy Thinh (Hanoi University of Technology), if you use an unclean cutting board or knife, such as if you have just used it to cut raw meat or raw vegetables and then use it to cut watermelon, it may contaminate the watermelon with bacteria such as E. coli.
Recommendations: All equipment should be thoroughly washed and, if possible, scalded with hot water before use.
3. Watermelon quality problems
Watermelons that are damaged during planting, harvesting, or transportation may have internal bruises or rot even if they appear normal on the outside, such as insect damage that causes the flesh to rot.
Recommendations: Choose watermelons with smooth rinds, without blemishes or cuts.
How to eat watermelon safely
- Choose fresh watermelon: the rind should be smooth, the stem should be green, and the tapping sound should be firm and solid.
- Wash tools before cutting: Use hot water to sterilize knives and cutting boards before use.
- Refrigerate properly: If you don’t eat it all, wrap it in plastic and refrigerate it immediately.
- Risk groups should be careful:
- Diabetics should eat watermelon in limited quantities.
- People with weak digestive systems should not eat chilled watermelon.
Summer is a risky season for food poisoning due to high temperatures and high humidity. Food spoils easily. Prevention methods are:
- Buy food from trusted sources and check expiration dates.
- Separate raw and cooked food.
- Control the temperature of the refrigerator (up to 4°C) and freezer (below -18°C).
- Wash hands before/after cooking. Use separate cutting boards and knives for raw and cooked food.
- Avoid street food or unclean dinner.