In the last five years, in the Republic of Moldova, there has not been a single case of poisoning caused solely by the consumption of watermelon or melon. In the context of the melon selling season, the National Agency for Food Safety clarifies that nausea or other digestive disorders appearing after their consumption does not automatically mean that the fruits contain a dangerous level of nitrates, reports IPN.
According to the data from the National Agency for Public Health, the 25 cases of nitrate poisoning recorded during the period 2021-2025 were mainly caused by the consumption of water from wells with a high nitrate content, and not by the consumption of green or yellow watermelons.
Specialists explain that the malaise that occurs after consuming watermelons can have other causes. Among these are the consumption of a large quantity in a short time, the digestive sensitivity of some people, non-compliance with hygiene rules before consumption, contamination of the fruit during handling, or storing the cut watermelon at inappropriate temperatures.
ANSA also refers to the conclusions of the European Food Safety Authority, according to which illnesses associated with watermelon consumption are usually caused by microbiological contamination, including bacteria such as Salmonella or E. coli, and not by nitrate content.
To mitigate risks, ANSA recommends purchasing watermelons only from authorized locations, washing the rind before cutting, and storing the cut fruit in the refrigerator. The institution emphasizes that nitrate poisoning cannot be determined solely based on digestive symptoms, but requires medical and laboratory confirmation.
