Frozen berries or grapes promise cooling plus extra vitamins on hot summer days. But frozen fruit eaten straight from the package can also be potentially harmful – to tooth enamel and health. FITBOOK asked what to look out for.
As an ingredient for an ice-cold smoothie or simply put in your mouth – enjoying frozen fruit is not only celebrated on Instagram and TikTok as an anti-heat hack. And at first glance, the trick looks pretty clever. Because fruit is healthy, full of nutrients and vitamins and, in the icy version, has the desired cool-down effect. But be careful! Frozen fruit can be harmful. Pathogens can lurk on them, and the acid can attack tooth enamel over time. But you don’t have to do without it entirely. If you do it right.
Viruses in frozen berries – the underestimated danger
The Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) warns that frozen berries can be contaminated with hepatitis A viruses or noroviruses.1 The insidious thing is that both pathogens are extremely robust and easily survive the cold. If they thaw in the mouth, they simply “wake up” again. Infection with the norovirus is accompanied by severe nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea. Although it is rarely life-threatening, it is extremely uncomfortable. And she is highly contagious. This was also the case in 2012, when thousands of children and young people fell ill after eating frozen strawberries from China contaminated with norovirus at school lunch. There are also residues of pesticides. Basically, with organic products you are at least on the safe side as far as that is concerned.
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This minimizes the virus risk
According to the BVL, viruses were mainly found in imported goods that came from outside the EU. The Federal Office therefore recommends briefly heating frozen raspberries and co. to 90 degrees before consumption. This is especially true for the elderly, babies and pregnant women. Now, for fans of frozen fruit as a summer snack, heating is not an option. So is there a way to enjoy cold fruit without fear of getting sick? «Yes,» reassured a spokesman for the Federal Office. “We are not aware of any outbreaks of disease with regard to fresh berries. If you wash fresh products thoroughly and then freeze them, there is nothing wrong with that.” He recommends using berries from your own garden or picking them yourself from regional plantations. Not only do you know where the fruit comes from, it is also in the interests of sustainability.
If you are lucky enough to have a large freezer, you can stock up so that you can still enjoy delicious berries in autumn. By the way: There is no danger from grapes either. But the same applies before freezing: wash, wash, wash!
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Are frozen fruits bad for your teeth?
With a little background knowledge, the risk of viruses can be reduced to almost zero, although never completely ruled out. But what about your teeth? Can cold and fruit acid destroy tooth enamel? The concern, according to dentist Dr. Joachim Hüttmann not entirely unjustified. However, the cold itself is harmless. «Cold does not damage the teeth, but it can be very painful if you are hypersensitive,» says the expert. However: “Chewing ice cubes or frozen fruit is not a good idea. Tooth enamel is harder than ice, but point loads can lead to fractures. Especially when the structure of the teeth has been weakened by fillings as a result of caries.” His advice: If you are going to eat frozen fruit, then only suck it and never bite it.
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The fruit acid in frozen fruit can also be potentially harmful
Caution is also required due to the acid contained in fruit, warns Hüttmann: «Fruit acids are indeed harmful to the teeth, the lower the pH value and the longer they remain in the mouth.» It is therefore advisable not to use the whole Consuming frozen berries or grapes non-stop throughout the day, sticking with a “cool snack meal.” “In general, acid should not act on the teeth for too long. You could say: the more acidic the food, the shorter.” Here, too, the danger can be minimized with a simple tip. «Don’t brush your teeth immediately afterwards, it’s better to wait an hour or two.» By then, the acid had neutralized itself.
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Conclusion: The four golden rules for safely enjoying ice-cold berries and grapes
Frozen fruit does not have to be dangerous for your health and teeth if you follow these four golden rules:
- Choose fresh fruit from the region or EU (preferably organic)
- Wash thoroughly first, then freeze
- Just suck, don’t chew (at least while the fruit is still frozen)
- Wait an hour or two before brushing your teeth
source
- Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety: Focus on food: Soft fruit can also be carriers of pathogens (2019)