The FDA says you shouldn’t store chopped avocados in water after the Hack Goes Viral has spread – that’s why

FDA speaks out against viral TikTok hack.

Users across the platform have posted videos showing how to put a cut avocado in water to prevent it from turning brown. While it can stay green, the FDA warns against doing so.

An FDA official told Good Morning America that storing in water can be unsafe due to bacterial contamination.

“The primary concern is that any human pathogens (such as Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, etc.) that remain on the surface of the avocado may multiply when immersed in water during storage,” the official said in the morning. News media.

Even cleaning the surface of an avocado before submerging it in water will not help protect it from contamination.

“In addition, studies conducted by FDA scientists have shown that Listeria monocytogenes has the potential to infiltrate and internalize the flesh of avocados if submerged in refrigerated dump tanks for 15 days during refrigerated storage,” the statement continued. “In this case, even surface disinfection of the avocado skin prior to slicing would not remove the contamination.”

Doctors on TikTok are also weighing in on the viral hack. Dr. Erin Carter, a rheumatologist, also shared the news that the FDA does not approve of this unsafe trend.

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“It turns out that’s not a good idea,” she says. “Storing avocados in this manner can actually promote the growth of two different types of bacteria – Salmonella and Listeria – and can lead to poisoning from these bacteria. It’s not pleasant to be infected with either of these bacteria. You really want to avoid them.”

According to the FDA, people infected with both types of bacteria may experience gastrointestinal problems, such as diarrhea and nausea, and may also develop a fever.

In her video, Carter goes on to confirm that simply washing avocados before submerging them in water doesn’t solve the problem because the bacteria are strong and “penetrate the skin” and therefore multiply in the flesh of the avocado.

She says the best way to store avocados is in a dry environment such as a refrigerator or counter.