Background introduction
On a hot summer day, a piece of sweet watermelon steaming cold is irresistible.
Many people will take the risk and eat the leftover watermelon in the refrigerator. After all, a momentary thirst quenching is too tempting.
However, this seemingly harmless act hides a huge crisis that no one knows.
An ordinary person who fell ill due to eating watermelon overnight silently issued a warning - that sweet temptation hides poisonous snakes.
Next, let me use a few real events that happened to you and me to explain the horror of overnight watermelon. I hope that these bloody lessons can sound the alarm bell for you and me to be fragile, away from the seemingly sweet poison, and away from the confusion of the overnight watermelon.
Mr. Zhang's overnight watermelon in Hunan caused necrosis of the small intestine
In the scorching summer of 2018, Mr. Zhang, a 70-year-old man in Hunan, came home with a plate of leftover watermelons, thinking that it would be better to take a cool sip. Unexpectedly, this bite turned out to be the beginning of a nightmare in Mr. Zhang's life.
When Mr. Zhang came back from going out that day, the hot sweat stuck to his body very uncomfortable. At this time, he noticed that there was still a large plate of watermelon from the previous day left in the refrigerator. Mr. Zhang couldn't help but take out the watermelon and ate a few bites, hoping to relieve the heat.
Unexpectedly, within a few hours, Mr. Zhang suddenly had unbearable pain, and his stomach was like a pinprick. Mr. Zhang thought it was a cold, so he didn't go to the doctor until the next day. When the doctor diagnosed his 70-centimeter small intestine necrosis, Mr. Zhang couldn't believe that he had paid such a tragic price for this mouthful of watermelon to relieve the heat.
Ladies eating watermelon overnight caused sepsis
A lady in Hanyang also suffered the same bad luck as Mr. Zhang. She bought a large watermelon that day and went home and put the rest in the refrigerator when she had almost eaten it.
Two days later, the lady couldn't resist the temptation of the watermelon and took it out of the fridge and ate it. She never expected that this moment of compromise would put her in a crisis of life.
Just a few hours after eating the watermelon, the woman suddenly felt weak and had a fever. The lady didn't care at first, but by the next morning it was clear to her that the situation was serious.
Immediately after entering the hospital, the doctor conducted a detailed examination of the woman and found that she had already developed symptoms of septic shock. It turned out that eating overnight watermelon caused intestinal bacteria to enter the bloodstream, causing the terrible sepsis.
Fortunately, the doctor treated her in time, which saved the woman's life.
A family of three was in critical condition after eating watermelon overnight
In Xi'an, not only the elderly will be hurt by the overnight watermelon, but even a young child will not be spared.
It was a family of three, and the parents bought a large watermelon and went home and put the rest in the refrigerator the next day. Early on the morning of the third day, the child saw the watermelon in the refrigerator and begged his parents to let him eat a few pieces to satisfy his hunger.
The parents thought that they were also members of the family, so they agreed. As a result, the whole family suffered because of this.
Soon after the three of them ate the watermelon, the whole family developed symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting. The youngest child is the most seriously ill. In addition to the symptoms of gastroenteritis, there are also danger signs such as anemia and kidney failure.
The child's dying appearance made the parents blame themselves very much, feeling that the sugar-coated shells at this time had put the family on the brink of life and death. The doctor rushed to give first aid to the child, which averted the tragedy of his death.
Experts analyze the hidden dangers in overnight watermelons
What is the intrinsic relationship between these emergencies caused by eating watermelon overnight? After investigation, experts gave an explanation -- it turns out that the low temperature of ordinary household refrigerators cannot completely inhibit the growth of various pathogenic bacteria.
Experts say that many psychrophilic bacteria, such as Listeria monocytogenes, multiply rapidly at low temperatures. These colonies hide on the surface of foods such as meat, vegetables, etc.
Watermelon itself is high in sugar, and when it is placed in the refrigerator, it becomes a "nutrient bank" for the colony. The bacteria absorb the nutrients in the watermelon and quickly grow and spread on the watermelon.
Other foods that come into contact with watermelon, such as raw meat, can also cross-contaminate the surface of watermelon. As a result, watermelon has become a bacterial "paradise", and the harm to the human body after eating it can be imagined.
Therefore, the seemingly innocent overnight watermelon has actually become a festering wound for bacteria to breed.
Scientific analysis by experts makes us understand that the low temperature of the refrigerator does not prevent the growth of bacteria. We must correctly understand the precautions for food storage to avoid becoming an accomplice to the proliferation of bacteria.
Only by remembering the time and taking quarantine measures can we avoid the trap of overnight watermelons.
Ways to store watermelon correctly
Since overnight watermelons are so dangerous, how do we store them properly?
First of all, after the watermelon is taken out of the refrigerator, it is best to eat it within 12 hours and never more than 24 hours. The freshness of watermelon decreases over time, providing a chance for bacteria to grow.
So be sure to control the time and don't store it for too long.
Secondly, leftover watermelons must be wrapped in plastic wrap to avoid air contact as much as possible. At the same time, it should be stored separately from raw food to prevent cross-contamination. It can be placed in the middle layer of the refrigerator, while raw meat, etc., can be placed on the bottom layer.
In addition, the refrigerator should be cleaned and disinfected regularly, at least once a month. Don't let the debris of watermelon and other foods accumulate as a breeding ground for bacteria. Keeping the inside of your refrigerator clean can greatly reduce the survival rate of bacteria.
Finally, don't let the fridge be overstuffed and affect the circulation of hot air. Regularly inspect for expired and spoiled food and discard it in time. It's not enough to rely on refrigerators, we also have to take the initiative to manage food ourselves.
By following these preservation methods, we can minimize bacterial contamination of watermelons and protect us from diseases. When we use the refrigerator correctly, we can turn it into an efficient line of defense against germs.
Other Overnight Food Hazards
In addition to watermelon, what other overnight foods need to be vigilant about? Experts remind that vegetables, seafood, eggs, etc. all have certain risks.
Green leafy vegetables, for example, derive their nutritional value mainly from vitamins and minerals. But these nutrients are very easy to lose. After leafy greens are stored in the refrigerator for more than 4 hours, a lot of nutrients are lost.
Although it does not produce bacteria, the nutritional value of eating it is not as good as before.
Similarly, seafood and salad are highly susceptible to spoilage. There are already a certain number of bacteria in these foods, and the bacteria do not completely die after refrigeration. After the best time to consume, the remaining bacteria will multiply rapidly, producing toxins that are harmful to health.
And for soft-boiled eggs and foods with high starch content, pay special attention to freshness. These foods are the favorite "nutrient source" of bacteria, and if you are not careful, it can cause serious disasters.
As the first hurdle of food safety, we must keep in mind the best before date for each food. The refrigerator alone can't completely stop the growth of bacteria, and we still need to do our part to stay away from overnight food.
Summarize the revelations of overnight food
Through these incidents, we can gain insight into the correct use of the refrigerator and the potential hazards of overnight food.
The refrigerator cannot 100% eliminate the growth of bacteria, we must take measures such as isolation, cleaning, and management to minimize the chance of bacterial growth. Pay attention to the time limit for the preservation of any food, and do not rely on the refrigerator for long-term storage.
At the same time, the overnight hazards of different foods have their own characteristics, and we must understand these characteristics in a targeted manner and take countermeasures. Green leafy vegetables should be eaten as soon as possible, seafood should not be overdue, and eggs and starchy foods should be especially careful.
Only by correctly understanding these food safety common senses can we hold the last line of defense for health. There is a need to build self-awareness of food management, not just relying on the refrigerator as a "tool".
I hope you will take this as a warning and do not become a victim of overnight food. Instead of suffering from illness, it is better to take precautions and stay away from these hidden dangers.