Vegetables in capital's stores contain large quantities of nitrates - ANSP expertise

Chisinau, 30 August /MOLDPRES/- Pumpkins, new cabbage, potatoes and onions from shops in Chisinau are products with the highest level of nitrates exposed on the counter and present a health hazard. This was revealed by a laboratory expertise recently conducted by the National Agency for Public Health under  the Choose Healthy initiative.

Thus, 30 vegetable samples were subjected to expertise: new cabbage, pumpkin, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers and new potatoes from five networks of stores in the capital. Of the total of samples, in 10 vegetable samples the nitrate concentration exceeds the maximum permissible limits.

Representatives of the National Agency for Food Safety announced that the institution regularly carries out checks in the markets and stores in the country, to check the quality of the products.

According to the World Health Organization data, the allowable daily nitrate limit is 3.7 mg (5 mg in spring) per 1 kg body weight, and nitrite - 0.2 mg. Studies show that of the total nitrate intake, 70% is represented by the consumption of fruits and vegetables, 21% by the contaminated water, and the rest by the consumption of meat and meat products.