When washing strawberries and cherry tomatoes, the water turns red. Is it because they are dyed with pigments?

This statement is not accurate.

The red water produced when washing strawberries and cherry tomatoes may also be due to squeezing or damage during transportation or storage, and the pigments and juices in the fruits may seep out, resulting in red water when washing. Of course, this cannot completely rule out the possibility that some unscrupulous merchants use pigments to dye fruits in violation of regulations in order to improve the appearance of the fruit. So, how to tell whether it is dyed? First of all, the color of dyed fruits is usually too bright and unnatural, and the pigments are easy to fall off when washing. The color of naturally ripe strawberries and cherry tomatoes is evenly distributed, and the color transition is natural. The color of dyed fruits may be too bright and the color distribution is uneven. Secondly, you can check the fruit stem: the fruit stem of normal fruits is usually lighter in color. If the fruit stem also shows a bright red color, it may be a sign of dyeing. You can also gently wipe the surface of the fruit with a wet paper towel. If there are obvious red marks on the paper towel, it may be caused by dyeing. You can also soak the fruit in water for a period of time and observe the color change of the water. If the color of the water quickly turns red and the color is darker, there may be a risk of dyeing. In short, the red water produced when washing strawberries and cherry tomatoes is mostly due to the dissolution of natural pigments, so there is no need to worry too much. To ensure food safety, you should choose regular channels when purchasing and wash thoroughly before eating. If you have any doubts about the color and safety of the fruit, you can make a preliminary judgment through the above method.

Author | Master of Doubao Food Processing and Safety

Review | Ruan Guangfeng, Deputy Director of Kexin Food and Health Information Exchange Center