Harmful tangerines: the danger lies in the peel

The New Year’s table of Russians cannot be imagined without tangerines. Demand for this type of citrus increases exponentially every December. Tangerines contain a lot of useful substances, but they can also be harmful to health. Specialists of the Office of Rospotrebnadzor for the city of Moscow explained how to avoid this.

Most people know that eating tangerines is good for you. Unless, of course, you use them in moderation and be sure that you are not allergic to citrus fruits. At the same time, not only the pulp of the fruit, but also the partitions and even the peel have useful properties. Therefore, tangerines are not only eaten in their pure form, but also make tangerine fresh juice, make jam and marmalade, add to pastries, and so on. However, as reported by Rospotrebnadzor, not all tangerines can be used as a whole. The danger lurks in the skin of the fruit.

The peel of freshly picked tangerines is rich in useful essential oils, as well as organic acids and flavonoids. However, it becomes dangerous if the fruit takes a long time to reach the shelves.

Rospotrebnadzor explained that before transportation, all tangerines (and oranges, by the way, too) are treated with sulfur compounds, which can cause asthmatic manifestations in a person. In addition, the paper in which fruits are wrapped is impregnated with a composition that prevents the formation of rot and mold, and the boxes in which citrus fruits are transported are treated with an antiseptic. All these chemical compounds are by no means beneficial to health. Therefore, tangerines and oranges, before eating, should be thoroughly washed with warm water and soap, they advise in Rospotrebnadzor.

And even after that, you should not use the zest or peel of imported tangerines for culinary purposes. After peeling the tangerine, discard the peel and wash your hands thoroughly. Then you can be sure that nothing threatens your health.

Alena Bodrienko.

Photo by Denis Voronin / Moskva agency