Dr. Muhammad Fahim, Advisor to the Minister, commented Agriculture And the head of the Climate Change Information Center, on the recent rumor controversy that the spread of gastroenteritis is caused by watermelons and peaches, saying: There has begun to remain a controversy recently over the responsibility of some agricultural products for causing gastroenteritis..
He added, during an intervention on the “A Last Word” program, presented by the media, Lamis Al-Hadidi, on the screen ONThe summer fruits that are now available to the Egyptian consumer are grapes of all kinds, apricots, plums, guavas, cantaloupes and the Egyptian apple that appeared a few days ago, explaining that despite the presence of all these types of summer fruits, complaints are only related to peaches and melons, although the rest of the varieties are available with the rest Farmers and get the same agricultural treatment.
He explained that the reason for complaining about these two varieties is watermelon and peaches because of their nature and their association with the love of Egyptians, saying: Egyptians very much love watermelons and peaches, especially with the high temperature, explaining that samples of peaches and watermelons have already been taken in the local market and pesticide residues were measured with them, and this is the most important and proven element. There is no doubt that the minimum amount of residues is present, not only that, but that some samples were completely free of residues, and it happened in the central laboratory responsible for analyzing all Egyptian exports that are exported to about 150 countries with a total of 350 agricultural products.
He pointed out that the watermelon fruit is a red sugary substance in its flesh surrounded by a solid layer that enables it to stay for longer periods at the retailer for periods of up to a week or ten days, but due to the large size of the watermelon fruit, it is stored at the al-Fakhani or even the carts that roam the streets under strong sunlight, which It leads to an increase in temperature.
He continued: Because it stays for long periods with the merchant, a kind of food decomposition occurs to it without smell or taste, which leads to the increase in the Egyptians’ consumption of watermelon, some problems may occur..
And he gave advice to the consumer when buying a watermelon, saying: When you go to answer the watermelon from Al-Fakhani, look at the funnel of the watermelon in the place of its contact with the plant. If you find it light green, it will remain fresh if it begins to darken, it will remain parked for a while and do not take it, and therefore we save fatigue, and with regard to peaches, he said: a substance It contains high sugars and fibers that are not soluble in water, and if anyone increases in consumption of it leads to larger bowel movements and diarrhea, it depends on consumption and has nothing to do with pollution or pesticides..