Recently, news has emerged from markets in Shandong and other regions about the appearance of dyed oranges. Experts point out that oranges with overly bright colors are likely to have been dyed.
It is understood that dyed oranges are often colored at the time of procurement. Wang Yumei, head nutritionist at the Nutrition Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Tsinghua University, explains that dyed oranges are definitely harmful to health. The harmful substances in the dyeing agent require a certain amount of time to completely evaporate. If this evaporation period is not met, toxic substances will remain in the fruit. Long-term consumption will cause these toxins to accumulate in the body, posing certain risks to the kidneys and liver.
When buying oranges, it is best to wipe them with a tissue; do not buy them if the color comes off. You can also tell if an orange has been dyed by its appearance. Dyed oranges have a particularly bright red color, while undyed ones are a pure orange color. The stem of a dyed orange is reddish, and if over-dyed, it can appear dark red, whereas the stem of an undyed orange is white with a greenish tint.
Furthermore, oranges are not suitable for everyone to eat. Due to their high acidity, they are not ideal for patients with gastritis. Consuming too many oranges can also lead to poisoning, causing the hands, feet, and even the entire skin to turn yellow. In severe cases, symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, irritability, and listlessness may occur, a condition medically known as "carotenemia". If this happens, it is necessary to stop eating citrus fruits for a period of time.