Raw vegetables are a favorite of many people because they are fresh, easy to make, and quick. Dishes combined with raw vegetables are a solution to prevent boredom when the meal has a lot of protein and fat.
Many Vietnamese dishes cannot lack raw vegetables such as fried spring rolls, vermicelli with grilled pork, vermicelli with snails, vermicelli with crab soup... On the other hand, many people believe that eating raw vegetables helps ensure enough vitamins and fiber if there are no vegetables in the meal.
However, the habit of eating raw vegetables also carries the risk of parasitic infections and food poisoning. This is largely due to vegetable growers often using wastewater and fresh manure to water their vegetables. Common parasites in raw vegetables are pinworms, dog roundworm eggs, liver flukes, amoeba parasites, etc.
In addition, if growers do not properly isolate and harvest pesticides after spraying, vegetables and fruits will still have pesticide residues when they reach consumers, causing great impacts on health.
To protect their health, many people choose to soak vegetables and fruits in salt before eating. Because they believe that salt is one of the substances with strong natural antiseptic properties and is friendly to human health. There are many types of solutions on the market that are advertised as being able to clean vegetables and fruits. After soaking, there is no need to rinse and they can be eaten directly, but because of the notion that it is still a chemical, not a natural substance, many people are still hesitant.
To date, there is no scientific evidence to confirm that washing vegetables with salt helps remove parasites and residual chemicals. According to Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Duy Thinh (former lecturer at the Institute of Biotechnology and Food, Hanoi University of Science and Technology), if vegetables are soaked in salt water for too long, they will be crushed and lose vitamins and minerals.
Furthermore, when vegetables are soaked in salt water, it accidentally increases the salt content in the body, which in the long run is not good for the heart and causes high blood pressure.
To wash vegetables properly, the Ministry of Health advises: wash vegetables under strong running water to remove residual chemicals, parasites, and worm eggs on vegetables. In particular, when washing vegetables, wash each leaf in turn under strong running water.
How to prevent parasitic infection from raw vegetables: it is best not to eat raw vegetables, especially when eating at restaurants or sidewalk eateries that have limited clean water sources and do not ensure food hygiene and safety.
Experts also recommend that when buying vegetables and fruits, it is best to pick them clean and then wash them with clean water many times. You should wash them about 4-5 times with clean water. Always wash vegetables in a basin full of water, which helps to easily remove dirt and sand stuck on them. Then, wash each leaf under running water many times to help wash away dirt, parasites and chemicals.
