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During Christmas time, we buy much more fresh fruit and vegetables, even though we should eat them more often during the whole year. Therefore, rules that should be followed when purchasing them are applicable to each purchase in any season.

We never buy mouldy or rotting fruits, even if they would be bargain priced. Fruit and vegetables must not be mechanically damaged, or, for example, damaged by frost, because they then become mouldy. It is prohibited to sell so called “cut outs” and we should not cut out fruits affected by moulds or rotting either. Mould products are present in the whole fruit and they can be dangerous to our health.

Fruit and vegetables must be properly labelled, among others, with quality class. However, neither II quality class means that it is possible to sell poor quality goods. If it happens that we find mouldy or rotting fruits in a package of lemons, apples, or, for example, kiwi, we should claim them in the shop as soon as possible and demand their exchange for quality goods or a refund.

It is useful to know that citrus fruit peel can be chemically treated and that these substances, although present only in the peel and do not penetrate into the fruit, may be dangerous to our health. Peel from oranges or lemons that are usually sold is therefore not suitable for making candied fruit. There are specially grown fruits for these purposes. On the other hand, there is no danger from grated lemon peel, because only a small amount is used in the dough.

CAFIA does not recommend buying fruit, vegetables and potatoes at the market on frosty days. Although there is no regulation determining the temperatures at which these goods can be sold, the law provides for that fruit and vegetables must not be damaged by frost. For consumers, it is very difficult to identify such damage, and it is only at home when they find out that fruit tissues that contain a lot of water, damaged by frost, quickly succumb to decomposition and cannot be eaten. Therefore, it is better to buy fruit and vegetables in shops. Potatoes react to low temperatures even more sensitively; they begin to grow sweet already at +2oC. Frosted potatoes must not be sold at all. For this reason, it is not suitable to store vegetables, fruit and potatoes in places where it can be freezing, for example, on the balcony.