It is common that in supermarkets and fruit sales some of them are offered already cut, both in halves or quarters, and in small cubes. The danger of eating cut watermelon and melon is that they are very vulnerable to attack by pathogens , especially when they are not properly refrigerated . In fact, massive poisonings have already occurred in various parts of the world due to the attack of salmonella, listeria or E.coli, contained in these fruits.
Watermelon and cantaloupe are large fruits, so buying just one brings much more than a personal serving. For this reason, when few people consume them in a household, then a fraction of this fruit is usually bought. Additionally, buying them cut facilitates their storage, as it requires less space in the refrigerator.
What is the danger of eating cut watermelon and cantaloupe?
Buying any cut fruit represents a great risk to the health of those who consume it. The shell or cover is the main protection that the edible interior of it has, and when it is cut, the exposed area is left without said defense. And in the particular case of melon and watermelon , it happens that their pulps contain a lot of water, and this makes them an ideal medium for the reproduction of harmful microorganisms.
In some establishments they usually place a plastic wrap to protect the cut part of the fruit, but this practice may be insufficient. And it is that by many hygiene precautions that are taken during the cut, there is always a high risk of contamination . It is enough that the fruit comes into contact with a knife contaminated with the pathogens, so that it already represents a risk to the health of the consumer.
If, in addition, the fruits are kept at room temperature, the risk of poisoning when consuming them multiplies. Pathogens such as salmonella, listeria or E.coli reproduce very easily when the temperature is warm or hot. That is why any fruit, once cut, must be kept refrigerated. From there arises the slogan “Cut fruit, always refrigerated!”, Proposed by the Community of Madrid on its website.
Therefore, it is not advisable to consume a cut fruit, if it has not been kept at low temperatures. And more in the case of children under 4 years of age , or adults with problems in their immune system , who are prone to attack by pathogens.
