Summer Care Tips: Enjoying Mangoes, Watermelons and Muskmelons? Here’s How to Check The Quality of Your Fruits

Summer Fruits: Mangoes, watermelons, and muskmelons are popular summer fruits, but many people are unaware that they can be chemically altered in ways that are harmful to their health. Vendors may use substances such as calcium carbide, ethylene gas, or synthetic dyes to speed up the ripening or enhance the appearance, methods that are prohibited or carefully restricted due to their toxicity. Calcium carbide, used to ripen mangoes, includes arsenic and phosphorus hydride, which can cause headaches, vomiting, and cancer. Watermelons may be injected with Sudan red or erythrosine dyes, whereas muskmelons may be sprayed with too much ethylene, endangering the respiratory, cutaneous, and nervous systems.

How to Check the Quality of Fruits

Mangoes can be examined for white bubbles in water, soaked in baking soda, or checked for uneven pulp and dryness. Watermelons may display dyes when rubbed with a cotton ball, as well as injection symptoms such as artificial redness or punctures. Excessive scent, glossy skin, and an unpleasant taste can all indicate artificial ripening in muskmelons. To be safe, shoppers should choose local, known sellers, avoid perfectly looking fruits, thoroughly wash and soak them, and prefer organic products wherever available.