Things to note when buying watermelon seeds and sunflower seeds during Tet

The advice below will help housewives have information on how to choose safe watermelon seeds and sunflower seeds.

During the Tet holiday in recent years, although nuts such as pistachios, almonds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, macadamia nuts, etc. are chosen by many consumers, watermelon seeds and sunflower seeds are still two types of seeds that are almost indispensable in families during these important first days of the year.

However, among a 'forest' of seeds sold at markets and agencies, buying quality, safe watermelon seeds and sunflower seeds is not a simple matter.

First of all, you need to remember, when buying nuts, you need to choose to buy from reputable manufacturers with clear origins. Nuts, whether raw or processed, must be packaged and preserved to ensure hygiene. There must be labels, production addresses, and clear expiration dates.

Avoid buying melon seeds that are dyed shiny or bright red. Illustration

With sunflower seeds: This is a very nutritious seed, rich in essential oils. Therefore, it is susceptible to mold, which will make the seeds taste spicy and bitter. More dangerously, mold also causes the appearance of carcinogens such as aflatoxin, ozchatoxin...

When buying cooked sunflower seeds: Must buy from reputable sellers. Seeds are tightly packaged, ensuring quality. Have clear labels, with specific expiration dates.

If the sunflower seeds are seasoned with spices when roasted (usually sugar, salt, cinnamon, basil, etc.) to enhance the flavor when eaten, you should taste them first to make sure the kernels inside the seeds are still plump and white. Avoid buying burnt, moldy seeds, or seeds with flat or dark, black kernels.

When buying raw sunflower seeds: You should choose sunflower seeds that are plump, not moldy, not moist. When you buy them, you must clean them by washing them under running water, then drain and dry them or dry them. This helps to remove some of the dust and preservatives.

After drying, the seeds are roasted until crispy and stored in a tightly sealed jar to prevent moisture absorption, mold, and deterioration.

With watermelon seeds: To have a beautiful color, watermelon seeds are often dyed with food coloring (there are two types: food coloring and industrial coloring). If dyed with food coloring, watermelon seeds will only have a light red color. If they come into contact with water, the color will easily come out or you can just rub a handful of watermelon seeds between your hands and see the red color fade to your hands.

In case of melon seeds dyed with industrial dyes, the melon seeds will be bright red and shiny. When exposed to water, the color will not fade.

The industrial dye commonly used to dye melon seeds is Rhodamine B (used to dye clothes, absolutely prohibited in food and pharmaceuticals because this substance can cause cancer to consumers). Long-term consumption of Rhodamine B-dyed melon seeds can lead to liver failure, kidney failure, and even cancer.

Therefore, to ensure safety, it is best to buy watermelon seeds in their original color. Although they do not have a beautiful color, they are safe for your health./.

According to VOV.VN