Markets and supermarkets are already selling some long-awaited fruits and vegetables after the cold season, but specialists from the Chisinau Public Health Centre are warning about the harmful effects of nitrates.
The institution has carried out multiple tests so far and found that out of 83 samples, 42 samples from domestic products and 41 from imported ones, two batches of domestic carrots and courgettes had excessive nitrate contents.
In 2016, a total of 249 samples were analysed, with 185 samples being from domestic products and 62 from imports. Of these, excessive nitrate contents were found in 18 samples from domestic products and in one sample from an imported product. The products with the highest content of nitrates proved to be radishes, with the samples being taken from several trading points, according to CSP Chişinău data.
Pumpkins and melons also showed high nitrate contents.
Specialists mention that fruits and vegetables containing nitrates become harmful to the human body when consumed in excessive quantities.
Low-nitrate foods include beans, broccoli, aubergine, cauliflower, peas, mushrooms, peppers, tomatoes, onions, leeks and asparagus.
At the same time, CSP Chişinău specialists say that if you ate high nitrate content foods, it would be advisable to consume citrus fruits, citrus juice or vegetables rich in vitamin C, as this destroys some of the nitrate ingested.
