Would you buy pre-cut fruit?
In modern society, with smaller household sizes, buying a whole watermelon might not be something you can finish. To meet this need, supermarkets offer pre-cut fruit, allowing consumers to buy half a melon, or even just a few slices or a small fruit platter. While convenient, pre-cut fruit can easily lose nutrients and become contaminated with bacteria.
■ Pre-cut fruit easily loses vitamin C
Fruits are a primary source of vitamin C. Vitamin C is prone to oxidation in the air, and high temperatures and sunlight can cause it to degrade. Pre-peeled and pre-cut fresh fruit may have reduced nutritional value. The UK Consumers Association conducted a study testing the vitamin C content of pre-packaged, pre-cut fruits and vegetables sold in supermarkets. They found that in 13 samples, 4 had less than half the vitamin C content recorded in reference books.
■ Improper handling can lead to bacterial contamination
The surface of fruit can easily be contaminated by pollutants, chemicals, animal waste, or bacteria like Salmonella. If fresh fruit is not disinfected, its surface may harbor Salmonella. When a knife is used to cut unwashed fresh fruit, bacteria from the contaminated peel can be transferred to the edible part. If cut fruit is left at room temperature for too long, bacteria can multiply.
Pre-cut fruit is susceptible to bacterial contamination, so don't buy it!
Therefore, when buying fruit, try to purchase whole, uncut fruit. If you must buy pre-packaged cut fruit, check that the packaging is intact, it is stored in a refrigerated section, and that it has not expired. Additionally, once purchased, store it in the refrigerator as soon as possible.