For individuals living alone or with fewer people in their household, maintaining a healthy diet can be difficult, particularly when it comes to buying and preparing fresh fruits and vegetables daily. While delivery apps that bring groceries and pre-cut produce to our doorstep offer convenience, there are safety concerns. Kanika Narang, manager of the diets department at Apollo Hospital, points out that contamination can occur during processing, packaging, and transportation.
Risks include physical contamination from dirt or dust, chemical contamination from pesticides or heavy metals, and biological contamination from bacteria or viruses. Additionally, exposure to air and light can lead to nutrient loss in pre-cut produce. To mitigate these risks, it is generally advised to consume pre-cut fruits and vegetables within four hours of cutting.
Online-delivered salads, being pre-made and stored, may also lack the freshness and safety of freshly prepared options..