Watermelon is an excellent summer fruit, but not all of them in the market are safe to eat.
Sometimes, chemicals are used to enhance the colour and taste of watermelons, which may cause severe health problems.
Here are a few ways to check whether the watermelon is safe to eat.
Before buying, check the watermelon rind for tiny holes, cracks, or syringe-like marks that may indicate chemical injection.
Naturally ripened fruit may not have the colour evenly distributed everywhere.
Cut a slice of watermelon and wipe the red flesh using a small piece of tissue or a cotton ball to see whether its colour is artificial.
Soak a watermelon slice in water; if the water turns red, it may contain artificial colourants, while naturally ripened watermelon will not change the water’s colour.
Naturally ripened watermelons have black or dark grey seeds, while pale or red-stained seeds may indicate the use of artificial colours.