How to Identify Hormone-Treated Fruits
Hormone-treated fruits are not beneficial and are harmful to health. All such fruits are unusually large and misshapen, with a brilliant appearance and a bland taste. Consuming fruits that have been "ripened" and preserved with chemicals is very detrimental to the human body. Many of the drugs used for "ripening" contain estrogen, which can cause premature sexual development in females and underdeveloped male sexual characteristics. Therefore, it is crucial to wash such fruits thoroughly before eating, preferably by soaking them in warm water for a period of time.
Lush green watermelons, golden-yellow pear-like fruits, purple pearl-like grapes, and bright red lychees—during the cold winter, all kinds of off-season fruits, emitting various strong or subtle fruity aromas, continuously make their way into countless households.
However, early-ripening strawberries that look like small steamed buns, oversized kiwis with sharp edges, are mostly treated with expanding agents. Lychees that are pink or have red stems, watermelons with immature seeds that are red but not sweet, and more, are often treated with ripening agents.
Green Foods Do Not Use Chemical Hormones
Currently, the market is flooded with foods containing chemical hormones, which are difficult to distinguish with the naked eye. Therefore, consumers should opt for foods with green certification when purchasing. Green foods and organic foods do not permit the use of any chemical hormones, so consumers can eat them with confidence.
Don't Buy Fruits That Are Not in Season
In addition, experts also remind consumers not to buy fruits that are not yet in their natural season. Fruits that appear on the market about half a month to a month before their ripening season, while having a nice color, are likely to have been treated with ripening agents. Even if no ripening agents were used, such fruits are not tasty and have low nutritional value.
The Difference Between Naturally Ripened and Chemically Ripened Fruits
Although chemically ripened fruits exhibit the appearance of being ripe, their skin or other aspects may still give an immature feeling. For example, a naturally ripened watermelon, due to sufficient sunlight, has a dark and bright rind with clear stripes and a mature stem. A chemically ripened watermelon has a fresh-colored rind, faint stripes, and a green stem.
Distinguish by Smell
Secondly, you can tell the difference by smelling the fruit. Naturally ripened fruits usually have a fruity aroma on their表皮. Chemically ripened fruits not only lack this fruity aroma but may even have an off-smell. Over-ripened fruits often have a fermented smell.
Chemically Ripened Fruits Are Heavier
Another distinct characteristic of chemically ripened fruits is that they are heavier. Comparing fruits of the same variety and size, the chemically ripened ones will be much heavier than the naturally ripened ones, making them easy to identify.