FSSAI Clears Viral Claims About Plastic Eggs And Colour Injected Watermelons

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Through the blog, an attempt is made to show how the Indian food regulator FSSAI has moved to counter all rumors concerning plastic eggs and color injections of watermelons. In this blog post, one learns that those videos going viral showing cracking of eggshells are simply eggs getting older, not artificial. On the other hand, the vibrant color of ripe watermelons is simply due to the presence of lycopene in the fruit. In essence, this blog post shows the significance of the food regulator’s role in ensuring consumers’ safety and restoration of their trust in foods. Simple ways to check for freshness through easy home methods, such as testing the eggs using water, are provided by FSSAI in this post. As the author of this post gives reasons as to why such rumors become popular on social media platforms, it becomes important for people to be able to verify the veracity of any claim made online.

Where Did This Plague Of Claims That Eggs Were Fake Start From?

Well, initially it started from people posting short clips on WhatsApp and other social media platforms where they opened eggs, claiming that they look like “fake plastic eggs.” Some eggshells appeared to be quite brittle, while the yolk would mix easily with egg white. Seeing this caused panic among the public that fake eggs made from synthetic substances are sold in the markets. In contrast, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India stepped forward to refute such information by stating that there have been no such reports about plastic eggs in India ever since.

How Come Some Eggs Look Odd?

It goes without saying that eggs are natural products, and with age, the yolk membrane starts getting broken down and causes the eggs to get cracked very easily. It is a common thing for the egg whites to turn watery and for the eggshells to become brittle due to evaporation of water through the tiny pores on the surface. These are the signs of ageing, but definitely not the signs of plastic eggs. FSSAI made clear that what people were seeing in viral videos was just the behavior of old eggs, not artificial ones.

How To Check The Freshness Of Eggs At Home?

FSSAI has advised conducting a simple home experiment. The egg when put into a tub of cold water either sinks or floats based on how new it is. The latter is an indication that the egg is old enough to be discarded. Fresh eggs normally have firm yolks and thick whites whereas old eggs have liquid whites.

Mythbusters: Red-Colored Watermelons?

One of the numerous myths that emerged was that traders inject watermelons with a red dye to give them a ripe and healthy appearance. This idea sounds outrageous; however, according to FSSAI, there is no scientific evidence to support it. Injecting a red dye uniformly inside the watermelon is extremely difficult because the color will not be distributed evenly throughout the fruit. Moreover, using needles to make holes will make the fruit unfit for consumption as it will deteriorate very quickly. A red color of a ripened watermelon occurs due to the presence of lycopene pigments in its composition.

What Are the Reasons Behind Such False Information?

Food is a very personal matter and any threat regarding one’s health can spread fast. Forwards on social media make these issues more prominent, particularly when they are circulated within families or communities. The videos that people see and believe do not consider scientific research. That is precisely why FSSAI has felt it necessary to counter such rumors publicly.

What Does FSSAI Have To Do With Food Safety?

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is India’s highest authority in matters related to food safety. It sets the standards, keeps track of the same, and makes sure the food reaching consumers is safe. Thus, by highlighting the myths related to the virals, FSSAI has not only promoted consumer interest but it has actually protected the interests of the farmer and the retailer from any potential threats related to these posts.

Are you Scared of Eating Healthy Foods?

FSSAI has explicitly stated these rumors to be baseless. Eggs and watermelons available in Indian markets are natural products. It is necessary to confirm the freshness of the products by performing home tests such as water tests for eggs or checking signs that fruits have ripened properly. The typical signs of ripeness in watermelons are having the same color throughout the exterior, having yellow spots due to touching the soil, and making hollow sounds after knocking them.

Why It Is Crucial To Debunk False Food Rumors

Misinformation related to food products can create fear among consumers, wastage of food products, and losses for the producers and the retailers. Due to misinformation spreading through the means of social networking sites, consumers have become hesitant about purchasing respective foods. In this regard, FSSAI has played an important role in increasing the confidence of consumers about their foods.

How can I be Confident About Not Being Fooled About Foods?

The first and foremost thing that a person can do is consult authentic sources of information regarding these foods. Consumers should avoid forwarding incorrect information. Even the FSSAI has created videos involving egg and watermelon animation characters in order to bring out the reality in an easy and interesting manner. People should spread awareness about the reality of these rumors and break the vicious circle of fear.

What Can We Learn From This About Food And Trust?

We depend upon foods for survival; therefore, we should be fully confident in our foods. Nonetheless, rumors regarding foods may break our confidence in the concerned food items. But through science and government regulations, we can feel confident. All in all, we learn that not everything that is being said on the Internet is real.

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