The watermelon season in Russia begins in mid-August and continues until October-November. The watermelons that spawn in June are mostly delivered from other countries such as Iran, Egypt and Israel. Due to the long journey these fruits are harvested a little green and ripen on the road, not in the garden under the sun. Therefore, watermelons from other countries may not be as sweet. However, gastroenterologist Yekaterina Kashukh warns that Russian watermelons in June are generally safe for health, which is not always the case.
Early local watermelons can be dangerous as they are grown with too much fertilizer to accelerate ripening. This makes the fruit grow fast, but the nitrate levels in it can be very high, which can lead to poisoning, the doctor warned. However, it is nearly impossible to determine the amount of nitrate in a watermelon by appearance and taste, and even portable meters do not always give accurate results about the fruit’s safety.
That’s why it’s important to follow simple safety rules and not buy watermelons from suspicious places like cars on the roadside, Kashuh advised. When choosing watermelons, not only the season and place of origin, but also the storage conditions should be taken into account. Watermelons lying in the sun in the heat can overheat and quickly spoil or lose their juiciness. It is better to choose fruits stored in a cool place, or at least in the shade. Watermelons lying on the ground can also deteriorate, begin to rot or mold due to lack of ventilation, the expert said.
If the watermelon contains too much nitrate, or if bacteria has started to grow on it due to long-term storage, a person may experience symptoms of poisoning such as stomachache, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, and fever. In this case, you need to call an ambulance and seek medical help. In order not to encounter such problems, you should be careful when choosing and buying watermelons, follow the doctor’s recommendations and follow simple safety rules.
Source: Ferra
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