What storage safety precaution must be taken if watercress is blended into a juice or smoothie due to its high nitrate content?
It is advised to drink it immediately or refrigerate it promptly and consume it within one day.
Watercress contains high levels of nitrates, and while this is beneficial for vascular health when consumed fresh, a safety concern arises when the plant structure is pulverized in a blended beverage like a juice or smoothie. In this prepared state, if the mixture is not handled correctly, there is a risk that the nitrates can convert into nitrites due to bacterial growth. Nitrites pose a potential health risk. To mitigate this conversion process, the guidance strongly advises consuming the blended watercress product immediately after preparation. If immediate consumption is not possible, the beverage must be promptly refrigerated and consumed within a maximum timeframe of one day to minimize the opportunity for bacterial proliferation and the subsequent conversion of nitrates into potentially harmful nitrites.
