Poison in your shopping basket: Foods hiding dangers you may overlook
Some foods require extra careful selection in summer (photo: magnific.com)
Summer is not the best season for some supermarket products. And it’s not just meat or mayonnaise-based salads. Some everyday products can quickly become unsafe if they have been stored improperly or left in the heat for too long.
RBC-Ukraine explains which less obvious products are better left on the shelf during summer.
Cut fruit
Watermelon without the rind, fruit boxes, and ready-made fruit cuts are very convenient in hot weather. But once fruit is cut, the flesh becomes much more vulnerable to contamination.
If the container is not refrigerated or feels warm, it’s better not to take the risk.
Refrigerated smoothies
A ready-made smoothie may seem healthier than soda, but once fruits and berries have been blended, the product requires proper storage.
Pay particular attention to the expiration date and the temperature inside the refrigerated display case.
Sprouts
Bean sprouts, alfalfa sprouts and other sprouts are products that people rarely think of as potentially problematic.
However, the warm and humid environment needed to grow them can also promote the growth of certain bacteria. That’s why it’s especially important to check the freshness of sprouts in summer.
Soft cheeses
Brie, Camembert, ricotta and other soft cheeses need to be kept cold. If the display case clearly isn’t maintaining a sufficiently low temperature, it’s better to choose another product.
You should especially avoid buying cheese with damaged packaging.
Surprise berries
Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and other delicate berries spoil quickly in summer. Before buying them, check the bottom of the container: if there is already moisture or juice, or if one of the berries is covered in mold, it’s better to choose another package.
And an important point: don’t simply remove a moldy berry and eat the rest — mold can spread invisibly through soft foods.
Ready-made sandwiches
People often grab them on the go without even thinking about the filling. But sandwiches containing cheese, eggs, chicken or tuna need to be kept refrigerated at all times.
If one is sitting in a refrigerated display case that doesn’t seem cold enough, it’s better to pass it up.
The main rule
In hot weather, the problem is often not the product itself but how long it has been without proper refrigeration.
So don’t look only at the date on the package. Check the condition of the container, storage temperature, appearance of the product, and the conditions inside the display case.
This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.
