New research has found that a TikTok viral hack that shows how to keep avocados fresh for weeks can cause salmonella.
Lawyer-do not do it try this at home.
A TikTok viral hack that shows how to keep avocados fresh for weeks using water and refrigeration can cause salmonella along with other harmful bacteria, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). New York Post reports.
User @shamamamahealing demonstrated the previous easy (and now nasty) trick to TikTok, which showed a two-week-old avocado that didn’t turn into his usual black-brown goop.
The mother of four boasted that the “magic” method of storing unopened fruit in a container with water could make it last “up to a month in the fridge.”
But the FDA says don’t put these fresh avocados with water on your guacamole.
“The FDA does not recommend this practice,” an agency spokesman said Newsweek.
“The main concern is the possibility that any residual human pathogen (ie Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp, etc.) that may reside on the surface of the avocado may multiply during storage when submerged in water. “.
The agency has also done its own testing and the avocados are back in worse condition, despite maintaining their huge green appearance.
“In addition, research conducted by FDA scientists has shown that Listeria monocytogenes has the potential to infiltrate and internalize avocado pulp when submerged in refrigerated landfill tanks within 15 days for refrigerated storage, “they said.
“In this case, even disinfecting the surface of the avocado skin before cutting it could not remove the contamination.”
Studying 1,615 avocados, the FDA found Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium significantly harmful to pregnant women, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems, in 17.73% of the study sample, according to Newsweek.
Immersing them in water for long periods of time aggravates the chances of bacteria multiplying, the outlet added.
This article originally appeared in the New York Post and was reproduced with permission