Why Aldi shopper's blackberry find could mean they're 'better' to eat
The Queensland woman questioned if the fruit was safe to eat, and the response she received surprised her.
An Aussie shopper has questioned the quality of the blackberries she bought from Aldi after making an unusual discovery while eating them.
Bunched together on the drupelets on a few berries are what appears to be insect eggs, likely belonging to a stink bug or harlequin — and what followed was a fiery debate about fresh produce in Australia.
"What are these beasties and are the berries safe to eat?" the Queensland woman questioned in the Amateur Entomology Australia Facebook group on Wednesday. "Tempted to chuck them out to be safe. But there is also a major cost of living crisis so really don't want to," she added.
The woman was reassured that her fruit was "safe to eat". In fact, many agree the sight of insects makes it better. The reason, according to some, is that it's often a sign of pesticide-free produce, grown naturally without chemicals.
"If nature isn't trying to eat your food, then you shouldn't be either! All this says to me is that it's not loaded with insecticides," one said — and that just might be true.
Are insects a sign of better fruit?
According to Driscoll's website — the berry brand in question — the blackberries "are grown naturally, without irradiation, genetically modification and artificial colours or flavours".
Irradiation refers to the process of subjecting food to ionising radiation, often gamma rays, which works to destroy bacteria and can treat insect infestation. In Australia, the process is only permitted for certain foods, including some types of fruit, vegetables, herbs and spices.
Alexandra Reagan, a food scientist at Food Safety Plus Australia, agreed that "the presence of insect eggs on produce can be a sign that the food is relatively free from pesticides". This is because some insects tend to avoid treated crops
However, it doesn't necessarily indicate better quality in terms of taste or freshness. "It's more about the farming practices," she told Yahoo News Australia.
"Whether you choose to eat produce with visible insect eggs or not may also depend on your personal preferences and tolerance for such imperfections," she added. "Some people may be comfortable removing the eggs and consuming the rest of the fruit or vegetable, while others may prefer to avoid it".
Aldi customers with quality concerns are encouraged to return the product to the store for a full refund or replacement.
"If you purchase fruits or vegetables with visible defects, such as insect eggs or signs of spoilage, you can typically return the item. It's a good practice to keep your receipt and packaging for such cases," Alexandra said.
Yahoo News Australia contacted Aldi for comment.
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