Kazakhs should hold off on buying watermelons for now, especially for children, warned Vice Minister of Agriculture Azat Sultanov. The safest period to consume this fruit runs from late July to September, reports infohub.kz.
At a government briefing, the vice minister was asked when it would be safe to eat watermelons. He explained that melons are grown in several seasons, and early fruits may contain growth stimulants and fertilizers. 'During this period, they ripen without any additives such as fertilizers and growth stimulants. So it's better to abstain for now, especially for children. This is my opinion as an expert,' he advised.
Regarding watermelons already on sale, Azat Sultanov noted that fruit and vegetable products from other countries and southern regions of Kazakhstan undergo phytosanitary checks for pests and diseases. However, the issue of possible excessive use of chemicals, whose residues could be dangerous, remains. The Agriculture Ministry typically addresses this together with the sanitary and epidemiological service.