Buying cut fruit has its advantages, such as that it is easier to adapt the amount we buy in the supermarket to our consumption. However, food safety experts warn that consuming it in pieces or halves can put your health at risk, especially if it is not refrigerated in the store or the cold chain is not respected on the way home.
The reason is that when the pulp is exposed, it is more likely to become contaminated in some way. “Fruit has a natural protection, which is the skin, and the moment we open and cut it, we contaminate its flesh. This is where the proliferation of microorganisms begins that can intoxicate us,” explains LluÃs Riera, technical director and food technologist at the SAIA consultancy, in this report.
Pathogens present in the soil where they have been planted can proliferate in all fruits, from Escherichia coli (E.coli) and Listeria monocytogenes to Salmonella. Dietitian-nutritionist Beatriz Robles points out that despite the fact that some fruits are washed, they pass through many different surfaces and hands, so it is normal for their exterior to end up becoming contaminated.
A couple of years ago, the consumption of melons was linked to an outbreak of salmonellosis that infected more than 200 people in 11 European states, according to Food Safety News. The most watery fruits are more prone to contamination, on the other hand, in the case of acid fruits such as citrus, it is more difficult for it to occur. “The skin of watermelons and melons is thicker for this very reason,” explains Riera. As they grow in contact with the earth, they are exposed to more microorganisms and create a tougher, more resistant rind to protect their pulp.
To buy cut fruit more safely, it is recommended to buy it in stores that keep it in refrigerators and where it is labeled with the date and time it was cut. If when we arrive at the supermarket we see that it is at room temperature and that the label only indicates the price, omitting the conservation data, it is best not to take it with us.
How we transport it home is also key to preventing it from becoming contaminated. The best thing is to take it in an isothermal bag and put it in the fridge as soon as possible, as we would do with chicken breasts. Avoid spending as little time as possible at room temperature.
The OCU, for its part, recommends that consumers follow these tips when buying already cut fruit.
