Can You Eat Avocado Skin? Beware: Avocado Skin May Contain Listeria
The prospects for avocado cultivation are very good.Avocados have become hugely popular in recent years, not only hailed as a "superfood" but also valued for their high nutritional content, making them a "blessing" for many people who follow a healthy diet. But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently urged people to remember to wash avocados thoroughly before peeling and eating them, because Listeria has been detected on avocado skin, posing a threat to human health.
18% of avocado skins contain Listeria
In a report released by the FDA at the end of last year, it was shown that between 2014 and 2016 they collected 1,615 samples of domestic and imported avocados in the United States for testing. Of the 361 avocado skin samples, 64 (about 18%) tested positive for Listeria.
Pregnant women are a high-risk group
Listeriosis is a type of infectious disease, and infection occurs from eating food contaminated with Listeria. Listeria is usually found in natural environments such as soil, water, decaying plants and the intestines of animals. Because this disease can lead to death in the most serious cases, pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are all more susceptible to infection.
In particular, the immune system is weaker during pregnancy, so pregnant women are a high-risk group. Listeria can also be passed to the fetus through the placenta, potentially causing miscarriage, premature birth, low birth weight or even death. Other fetuses infected with listeriosis at a later stage may also develop intellectual disability, paralysis, blindness, and damage to the brain, heart and kidneys after birth, among other health problems.
Must be washed before peeling
When a knife is used to cut open the avocado or other utensils are used while washing it, bacteria and contaminants may be transferred from the knife to the flesh. Therefore, the FDA recommends that before peeling or cutting an avocado, it is best to first wash and scrub the skin clean with water.
In addition, Listeria can also spread from contaminated food to the refrigerator and other places where food is stored. The FDA recommends immediately cleaning up spilled or leaked food or liquids in the refrigerator and regularly washing the interior with warm soapy water.
