We pay for the fruits and veggies, but what come unsolicited are pesticides, harmful bacteria or mould. So watch out next time when you go shopping, says Geeta Padmanabhan
Free of bacteria? Vegetables waiting to be picked up at a shop
One childhood memory stands fresh. All the veggies and fruits that entered the house had to have a bath in potassium-permanganate solution. Too bad if you’re dying to bite into that luscious-looking banganapalli. “Wait for half an hour, w
ash it and peel off the skin,” were strict instructions.
Habits have a way of following you to adulthood. Today, all green grocery automatically goes into basins of water. That half-hour wait is a matter of routine. We know when we pay for fresh food, we get unsolicited freebies –— could be pesticides, harmful bacteria and/or mould. Scrubbing our hands is no guard against many germs. No, we are not in danger of imminent collapse. But those inconvenient bellyaches, bouts of diarrhoea, even breathing problems are from crawlies we hadn’t thought existed.
“Unless you buy organic mangoes you’re sure to consume endosulfan (a dangerous pesticide used on mango trees to kill tea-mosquito bug),” warns Krishnan who promises to bring “organic foods to your doorstep”. “Your mango milkshake may have detergents used to remove latex stains on the fruits, acids and harmful residues of artificial ripening.”
“But I’m a smart shopper! I can spot fresh veggies and fruits a mile away. I never buy meat or milk without checking the ‘best before’ date!” Good for you. Did you check the containers those greens are displayed in? The surroundings of the shop? The dirt on the floor? Do you know the places in the shop where bacteria hang out? Don’t get scared. These may not affect a healthy adult. They just target the prone-to-illness, the elderly and kids.
Water, the culprit
Shop assistants periodically sprinkle water on fruits and vegetables. Is that water clean? Have you had a look at the pumps where they were collected? There’s no guarantee even organic vegetables are free from water-generated germs. Why don’t you get a water sample from cabbage leaves, keerai or fish tested? Do you often pull out eggs, paneer, peas and yoghurt from supermarket refrigerators? You do? Cast a glance at the shelf. See the beginnings of a biology project on spilled milk or egg yolk? When did you see the check-out counter wiped? When you buy grapes or guavas from vendors in streets, do you casually pop one in the mouth “to taste”? Best way to catch bacteria that are not user-friendly. Munch on prepared food as in roadside cup noodles, chaats, fruit juices or boiled corn, dust-coated germs travel in the containers, spoons, water and plates.
Travel travails
Let’s talk of your own travel. Specifically, of the times you had to “recover” from your holiday. The times you came down with colds, sneezing fits, stomach flu or hill diarrhoea. Remember where you caught them? Was it when you walked barefoot during security check? The next time wear a pair of socks. Heaven help if the guy sitting next to you is a sloppy eater or has a coughing bout. It simply compounds the problem of breathing canned air for long hours. If you’re staying in a hotel, make sure the sheets/pillows are washed and stain-free, curtains have been through a cleaning cycle. Get the container filled with fresh water. Use bathroom slippers to move around.
Your workplace is another free supplier of germs. Sniffling co-workers aren’t the only ones with “free gifts”. Invisible enemies spring from dusty monitors, clogged keyboards and ancient printer/copiers. If plush office chairs could speak, they would tell multiple tales of dust-filled woe. If you are prone to rashes and allergies, well, there you have it.
At the beauty parlour
Ha, those visits to the “health” places? At the gym, you could have germs as work-out partners. In the yoga room (check the mat!) you’d breathe in more than plain air. Beauty parlours give you more than a haircut. Highlight yo.ur hair, the bacteria are free! Do you carry your own comb? What about the thread that goes into the assistant’s teeth before reaching your eyebrows? Did you see anyone washing the sauna tiles?
Two-way street
Confess. When was the last time you cleaned your shoes? Where do you think that toe infection came from? Waiting areas anywhere – dental clinics, hotels, airport lobbies - are ripe with dirt. The magazine in the rack, how many hands flipped through it? Garbage in the street, spit marks on the walls, ugh!
Getting paranoid? Do realise cleanliness is a two-way street. We add to the mass as much as we take them home. How do chair seats and sofa cushions get grimy, books grubby? Is your deep breathing healthy if you do it sitting on a bad stomach?
Ok, we’ve lived with muck all our lives and most of us have developed strong immune systems. But it doesn’t hurt to take elementary precautions, won’t you agree?
DOS AND DON'TS
Wash your hands thoroughly as soon as you get home.
Wash all you buy carefully.
Clean your shoes.
Check the “sell by” or “used by” dates.
Choose prepared foods stored at the right temperature. If it doesn’t look good, don’t buy.
Don’t leave dirt behind anywhere.
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