As Karachi continues to face intense heat, there has been a worrying rise in cases of food poisoning, intestinal infections, and other stomach-related illnesses. Health experts attribute this surge primarily to the consumption of low-quality and chemically treated fruits.
Among the most commonly consumed fruits in the summer, watermelon has emerged as a major cause of these health issues. Several patients visiting hospitals have reported symptoms of cholera and food poisoning after eating watermelon.
According to Dr. Irfan Siddiqui, a senior physician at Jinnah Hospital, certain vendors are injecting cosmetic substances and harmful chemicals into fruits to make them appear larger, redder, and more appealing. He advised the public to store fruits in refrigerators instead of freezing them and to limit their consumption to avoid health complications.