One bite of "overnight watermelon" contains 8,400 bacteria? Can you still eat it? The key is to look at these points

Experts of this article: Ruan Guangfeng, Director of the Science and Technology Communication Department of the China Science and Technology Information Exchange Center, Associate Research Librarian, and Member of the Expert Committee of the China Internet Joint Rumor Refutation Platform

The temperature has been rising in recent days, and eating watermelon has become the first choice for many people to cool off.

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Sometimes, the watermelon you buy is too big to eat in one go, and you want to save it for the next day, but you are worried that it is unsafe to eat overnight watermelon. There are many scary rumors circulating on the Internet:

“A piece of overnight watermelon can cause intestinal necrosis;

“I almost lost my life by eating overnight watermelon;

"Eating frozen watermelon overnight is equivalent to eating 8,400 bacteria in one bite"

…

Can you eat overnight watermelon? Is it useful to cut off the surface? How can you eat watermelon safely? Let's analyze it now.

Can you eat overnight watermelon?

Watermelon is high in sugar and water, and is very popular with various bacteria, so many people worry that it is unsafe to eat overnight watermelon.

However, the culprit isn’t actually the watermelon itself!

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A good, whole watermelon is basically sterile inside. But after it is cut, the watermelon will come into contact with bacteria from the outside world. And if the knife, cutting board, and hands of the person cutting the watermelon are not hygienic, they will also contaminate the watermelon. If you eat a watermelon contaminated by harmful bacteria, it may cause food poisoning and illness.

Therefore, whether overnight watermelon can be eaten depends on whether it is contaminated by harmful bacteria.

In other words, if the watermelon itself is clean, and the knife and cutting board used to cut the watermelon are also clean, if you cannot finish it, wrap it in hygienic plastic wrap as soon as possible and put it in a clean refrigerator, then you can eat it safely even if it is left overnight.

Eating overnight melon, you swallow 8,400 bacteria in one bite?

The statement "eating 8,400 bacteria in one bite" first came from a CCTV program called "Road to Health", but this data is completely sensational.

There are tens of billions of bacteria in the human intestine all year round, weighing about 1 kilogram, but most of these bacteria do not cause illness; the environment we live in is also full of bacteria, which do not affect our health. Bacteria and microorganisms can be good or bad, some have no effect on the human body, and some are even beneficial, such as "probiotics".

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The number 8,400 may seem like a lot, but compared to other foods, this amount is nothing.

For example, the national standard for infant formula is 10,000 bacteria per gram. The total bacteria count of milk tea and fruit tea bought in cold drink shops is no more than 50,000 bacteria per gram, and the total bacteria count of boxed lunches is no more than 100,000 bacteria per gram, which are much higher than 8,400.

The most important thing is whether it will cause harm to humans. The key is to see whether there are pathogenic bacteria, such as common Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria, etc.

Is it helpful to cut off the surface layer of overnight melon?

This approach is more about making yourself feel more at ease, but it has no practical effect.

Whether overnight watermelon can be eaten depends mainly on whether it contains pathogenic bacteria.

If it is not contaminated by pathogenic bacteria, you can eat it without any worries even if you don’t cut off the surface. But if it is contaminated by pathogenic bacteria, even if you cut off the surface of the watermelon, it may still make people sick.

How to eat melon more safely?

If you want to eat watermelon safely, the key is to pay attention to hygiene and prevent contamination by pathogenic bacteria.

So, when eating watermelon, pay attention to:

Try to buy fresh, whole watermelons

Whole watermelons do not pose a risk of bacterial contamination, but pre-cut watermelons, knives and cutting boards are not kept in sanitary and storage conditions, so the risk of bacterial contamination is much greater.

If you want to buy them, make sure they are covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated.

Try not to buy large watermelons

Large watermelons often cannot be eaten in one go and have to be stored for a long time, which puts them at risk of contamination during the storage process.

It is recommended that you buy small watermelons as much as you can eat, and try to finish them in one meal when you get home.

Wash your hands before washing melons

Wash your hands before cutting the melon. Since the rind of the watermelon may also be contaminated, it is best to wash the entire watermelon, including the rind, before cutting it and eating it.

Pay attention to the hygiene of knives and cutting boards

The knife and cutting board used to cut watermelon need to be kept clean, and should not be used together with the knife and cutting board used to cut raw meat! Can the knife and cutting board used to cut raw vegetables be used to cut melon? They should also be washed before cutting. It is best to have a knife and cutting board specifically for cutting fruits at home.

Put in refrigerator as soon as possible

After cutting the watermelon, if you cannot eat it, you should cover it with plastic wrap and put it in the refrigerator as soon as possible.

Pay attention to refrigerator hygiene and finish eating as soon as possible

There may also be pathogenic bacteria in the refrigerator, such as Listeria. Therefore, when storing watermelons, be careful to avoid contact with other foods (especially meat and seafood) to prevent cross contamination. At the same time, clean the refrigerator in time and eat it as soon as possible.

How to choose sweet watermelon?

When buying watermelons, everyone hopes to pick ones that are sweet and delicious. So how should one choose?

There are also various cheats on the Internet, such as "look, touch, pat, and weigh". In fact, everyone's feelings are different, and these methods are not accurate in operation.

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In fact, the watermelons that are sold regularly are selected and put on the market according to the standardized planting process and the watermelons that can be put on the market are basically suitable for eating.

It is recommended that you try to go to regular supermarkets and markets, pick a watermelon of the right size and favorite variety, and then go home and enjoy it.

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