A disturbing video is going viral on social media showing food vendors repackaging rotten, fungus-infested strawberries and selling them as fresh. The footage, shared by Urvashi Agarwal on Instagram, has raised concerns about food safety and public health.
In the video, vendors are seen picking through spoiled strawberries and packing them into plastic boxes, typically used for fresh produce. Agarwal’s post highlights the unethical nature of these practices, warning that consuming such contaminated fruit can lead to severe health issues, including food poisoning, liver damage, and respiratory problems. “Food vendors are putting people’s health in danger for a little extra money, and there is no check by FSSAI or the Food Safety Department,” she wrote, urging action to prevent such practices.
The video has sparked widespread concern, particularly over the potential risk to street vendors who make milkshakes or jams from these spoiled strawberries. As strawberries are packed with nutrients when fresh, their rotten counterparts can cause harmful effects. Consuming moldy or rotting strawberries can lead to food poisoning, gastrointestinal distress, fungal infections, and mycotoxins exposure, which can damage the liver and immune system.
Health experts urge people to avoid strawberries that are mushy, moldy, or have a foul odor, and to always wash produce thoroughly before consumption. “When in doubt, throw them out!”
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