“Husband, I want to eat strawberries~”
“What to eat, I look like a strawberry! Strawberries are the dirtiest, you know?”
“Mom, help me pack the duck neck!”
“What do you eat duck neck, all lymph nodes, dirty!”
Why!
My favorite food is the dirtiest?
Are they really dirty or fake? We take stock of 9 kinds of food that everyone is eating, and see if you can eat it?
There is a list of “dirty fruits and vegetables” on the Internet, and strawberries have been ranked first for five consecutive years.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG), which publishes the list, is a civic organization, not a government regulator, nor an academic institution.
It is based on the USDA’s Pesticide Residue Data on Agricultural Products: the variety number of pesticide residues were detected in strawberries. The detection of many types of pesticide residues does not mean that it must exceed the standard, and it does not mean that it will cause harm to people.
(Image credit: soogif)
Actually, it is normal for most fruits and vegetables to have pesticide residues.
The report released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People’s Republic of China shows that in 2019, the pass rate of China’s agricultural products was 97.4%[1]. strong>, There is no need to worry.
There has always been a saying on the Internet that “water spinach is the vegetable that absorbs pesticides and heavy metals the most. It is used abroad to purify the soil, and no one eats it.”
Like other plants, water spinach grows in the soil, which inevitably enriches some of the heavy metals. But to say that it is the most enriched is an understatement!
Hangkong only has a soft spot for certain heavy metals, such as lead, cadmium, etc.; and this is mainly related to the growing environment, Exceeding the standard is still very rare[2 ].
As for pesticides, as long as it is a standard planted water spinach, it will generally not exceed the standard [3].
In short, as long as the water spinach purchased in regular markets and supermarkets, it can be eaten with confidence after washing it well and cooking it after buying it.
Image source: Zhanku Hailuo
Many people see crayfish and catfish in dirty water and assume they are dirty food.
Indeed, the two aquatic brothers have strong vitality and can survive in polluted water.
But “being able” to survive in polluted water doesn’t mean they “like” it!
(Image credit: soogif)
If water quality is poor, crayfish and catfish are slow to grow, reproduce, and die easily [4,5].
The crayfish and catfish we can eat are all farmed, not only in a clean growing environment, but also animal and plant-based feeds are fed according to growth needs. This is the only way to get a good price!
See more medical books: Mom, crayfish are really not dirty, and they don’t eat corpses! Stop spreading these 5 rumors
Some people say that spicy strips are all made of waste paper, and it is only because they have additives that they taste so good.
This statement is simply…
(Image source: soogif)
Chili bars are made with wheat flour or beans. A variety of food additives are indeed used during processing, such as pigments, flavors, and sodium cyclamate.
There are more than 2,000 kinds of food additives approved in my country. As long as they are used in compliance with regulations, no matter it is more than a dozen or twenty kinds, they are all safe [6].
(Image credit: soogif)
Of course, spicy sticks have a lot of oil, salt, and sugar, and the nutrition is very simple. It is not a healthy snack, so eat less.
Barbecue has been criticized by your mom and dad for being unclean, unsanitary, and producing carcinogens.
Actually, as long as the ingredients are hygienic and operating standards, barbecues can also be hygienic and safe.
When food is cooked at high temperature, some carcinogens, such as benzopyrene, are produced. But as long as it is not scorched or burnt, there will not be many carcinogens caused by high temperature.
We do not live by barbecue every day, and the amount of benzopyrene ingested has little effect on health [7].
(Don’t eat this! Image source: soogif)
It can also be safe to eat barbecue. Remember to choose a regular restaurant, don’t eat the burnt part, pay attention to a balanced and varied diet, with some vegetables and fruits .
There are rumors that ice cubes in fast food restaurants are dirtier than toilet water. Others took out the test report and found that the total number of colonies in the ice was really more than the toilet water.
The toilet means that I am busy, the toothbrush is dirtier than myself, the keyboard is dirtier than myself, the mobile phone is dirtier than myself, the ice cube is dirtier than myself…
This statement is actually quite deceiving.
The total number of bacterial colonies is an indicator reflecting the level of bacterial contamination and the quality of hygiene [7]. Too many colonies may indicate that the hygiene condition is not good, but it does not mean that it is necessarily harmful.
Simply put, the presence of bacteria doesn’t mean it’s harmful, it’s dirty!
Whether it is harmful, the key depends on whether there are pathogenic bacteria, such as Salmonella, Shigella, Staphylococcus aureus, etc., and the test report did not detect it at all pathogenic bacteria.
As long as it’s clean, frozen ice cubes, there’s nothing to worry about.
(Image credit: soogif)
Some people always say that animals have lymph nodes in their necks, which are detoxification organs and are very dirty.
Lymph nodes are organs in animals that filter pathogens, not detoxification organs. They are distributed all over the body, the neck is just more concentrated.
No matter which part of the lymph node, you should not eat; conversely, no matter which part of the meat, as long as the lymph node is removed, it will not affect eating.
In standard slaughter, the thyroid, diseased lymph nodes, and adrenal glands of pigs are removed and are safe to eat [9].
Let’s talk about our favorite duck neck. There are no formed lymph nodes in chickens and ducks. There are only lymphatic aggregates that play the same role, which are indeed distributed under the skin of the neck. If you are concerned, you can remove the skin.
(Image credit: soogif)
Stinky tofu has been soaked in feces and blisters, and it is also an enduring “old rumor”.
Stinky tofu expresses unhappiness: “The soul has its own aroma!”
Stinky tofu is formed under the fermentation of various microorganisms. During the fermentation process, a large amount of esters, alcohols and sulfur-containing substances will be produced. So “smells bad, tastes good” [10].
Technically speaking, you can’t make such stinky tofu with dung water, because you eat it — it stinks even more!
There are a lot of pathogenic bacteria and harmful substances in the fecal water, and ordinary businesses will not take such a big risk.
This one is more reliable.
Bulk food is not protected by airtight packaging and is prone to contamination by bacteria and mold in the environment, and may be attacked by pests and crawled by rats,< /strong>The security risk is higher [11,12].
However, bulk food isn’t completely out of the question.
Many supermarkets have strict management of bulk food, and there are relatively few cases of contamination. Foods like rice, on the other hand, are safe to eat when cooked.
In short, when buying bulk food, choose a large supermarket! Dirty places should be avoided.
Finally, I bet you don’t dare to transfer this article to the family group!
What? have you turned? What did your parents say, please share with us in the comment area~
Easter eggs
About the dirtiest food, we did a poll to see if there is any you love~
Swipe down to see full image
Contributing Author: Ruan Guangfeng| Director of Science Communication, Kexin Food and Nutrition Information Exchange Center
References
[1] Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. In 2019, the pass rate of routine monitoring of major agricultural products in my country was 97.4%
[2] Liu Juan, Liu Xue. Literature review on the current situation of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables in my country [J]. Modern Economic Information, 2019, (24): 328-329, 332.
[3] Zhao Yunfeng, Wu Yongning, Wang Xuqing, et al. Research on pesticide residues in the diet of Chinese residents [J]. Chinese Journal of Epidemiology, 2003, 24(8): 661-664 .DOI:10.3760/j.issn:0254-6450.2003.08.005.
[4] Gong Luojun, Shu Xinya, Xiong Bangxi, et al. Effects of heavy metals on Crayfish and its countermeasures [J]. Water Conservancy and Fisheries, 2007, 27(5): 17- 20.
[5]Wang Shuli. Effects of Cd2+, Pb2+, C2+ concentrations on the growth and in vivo enrichment of Crayfish [D]. Jiangsu: Yangzhou University, 2012. DOI: 10.7666/d .Y2257801.
[6]GB 2760 National Food Safety Standard Food Additives
[7] Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety. Barbecue and Food Safety.
[8]GB 2759.21-2015 Hygienic Standard for Frozen Drinks
[9]Regulations on the Administration of Pig Slaughter
[10] Tang Hui, Chen Lin, Zeng Yulun, et al. Optimization of Changsha stinky tofu coloring process and comparison of flavor compounds before and after brine soaking [J]. Southern Agricultural Journal, 2019, 50(4 ): 831-837. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-1191.2019.04.21.
[11] Gong Chunbo, Wang Chaoxia, Guo Yulin, et al. Investigation and Research on Microbial Hygiene Status of Commercially Available Bulk Ready-to-eat Foods [J]. Journal of Qingdao Agricultural University (Natural Science Edition), 2012, 29(2):121-125.DOI:10.3969/J.ISSN.1674-148X.2012.02.010.
[12] Yu Cuifang, Zhao Xiaoli, Gong Chunbo, et al. Hygienic condition detection and cause analysis of bulk food in supermarkets [J]. Food and Fermentation Science and Technology, 2011, 47(5) :84-86. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-506X.2011.05.023.
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