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Many homemakers are deeply concerned about food safety and hygiene. Explore effective methods for distinguishing between clean and poor-quality food items.
Food purchased from markets and even supermarkets is eroding consumer trust due to its poor quality and harmful chemical additives. Regular consumption of such food can seriously impact health in the long run. Protect your family by employing the following methods to differentiate between clean and poor-quality food:
How to differentiate between clean and poor-quality food 1: Morning glory
Clean morning glory: When picking clean morning glory, there's often sticky residue on the hands, the leaves have a natural green color, with numerous deep spots.
Poor-quality morning glory: Thick, chubby stems with dark green leaves, no sticky residue when picked. Boiling turns the water light green, while cooled water turns dark green and tastes bitter.
Chemical-sprayed morning glory on the left, clean morning glory on the right
How to differentiate between clean and poor-quality food 2: Water spinach.
Clean water spinach: Small, vibrant green leaves, not too long, just the right size. Soak in water briefly as they are not treated with any chemicals.
Subpar water spinach quality: Shiny, elongated leaves due to excessive growth hormones, lacking the rich green color indicative of proper sunlight exposure. When soaked in water, the bunch may extend an additional 20 to 30cm.
Experiment to identify clean versus chemically treated produce
How to differentiate between clean and poor-quality food 3: Pork
High-quality pork: The meat is springy, emits a pleasant aroma when cooked, does not release excessive water, and has a firm texture. According to experienced pig farmers, thicker layers of fat and skin indicate that the pig has been raised for a longer period without relying on growth enhancers.
Pork from enhanced growth: Pale meat color, stringy texture. Pressing on the meat reveals softness and excessive water release. When sliced, the meat leaks water for 1 to 2 hours, especially noticeable during cooking.
Image on the left shows clean pork, while the right image displays pork from pigs subjected to growth enhancers
How to differentiate between clean and poor-quality food 4: Grapes
Ninh Thuận grapes: If meeting clean food standards, the skin of the grapes is very thin, ripe fruits are bright red, with a harmonious sweet taste and a slight sourness. The size of Ninh Thuận grapes is about the size of a thumb, spherical in shape. The bunches are long and the grapes are closely packed.
Chinese grapes: Twice the size of Ninh Thuận grapes, with a strong sweet taste, ripe grapes are light red with white spots on the skin. A bunch of grapes weighs about 500g to 700g, and the grapes on the same bunch are spaced apart.
Image on the left shows Chinese grapes, while the right image displays Ninh Thuận grapes
How to differentiate between clean and poor-quality food 5: Squid
Fake squid: Soaking fake squid in water for about 10 minutes reveals its true nature, as the thin rubbery sheet dissolves, leaving a pale, faded exterior. The flesh tears apart without the characteristic bounce of real squid.
Fake squid may initially emit a scent similar to real squid to deceive the sense of smell, but upon grilling, it lacks the savory aroma and instead emits a burning odor of easily combustible polymer. When torn by hand, the fake squid exhibits prolonged elasticity like a rubber band.
Distinguishing between fake and real squid
How to differentiate between clean and poor-quality food 6: Bean sprouts
High-quality bean sprouts: Crisp, sweet roots and shoots, they remain fresh for a long time (can be stored in the refrigerator for 7 days without spoiling)
Poor-quality bean sprouts: Thick, short roots that quickly spoil, and almost no roots present. Spoilage occurs within 2 to 3 days.
Sprouts treated with growth stimulants often lack roots (image on the right)
How to differentiate between clean and poor-quality food 7: Seasoning powder
Fake seasoning powder: Small edges with sharp, uneven teeth and insecure adhesive.
Authentic seasoning powder: Large, well-defined teeth and firmly pressed adhesive on the packet.
Distinguishing between counterfeit and genuine products is easy
How to differentiate between clean and poor-quality food 8: MSG
Fake MSG: Fake MSG, much like seasoning powder, will have uneven edges and insecure adhesive.
Real MSG: Authentic MSG packets are uniformly pressed on all sides.
Real and fake MSG
Nowadays, both real and fake products are flooding the market. Please take good care of your family's health by carefully selecting clean, quality-assured food before consumption.
