BUJMBURA, February 11th (ABP) – Fruit vendors on the verges of the Cotebu market complain that they work under a burning sun. However, they have no other choice, even if their fruits exposed to the sun can be poisoned, which is dangerous for consumers.
Few of them have umbrellas. “I am aware of the risks of exposing my products to the sun, but I have no other choice,” said a woman who did not want to reveal her name.
“We settled here, coming from the city center where we were doing street trading, we were promised to be given stands at the market, but in vain. Fortunately, we had space where we can display our fruits provided that we return with something to support our families,” she added. As the government had decided to send those vendors to the Ngagara market, they indicated that they would go bankrupt because the Ngagara market is not frequented.
According to Mrs. Josiane Ndayikengurukiye, Nutritionist, exposing fruits to the sun, such as mangoes and oranges and other fruits under the sun has harmful effects on their nutritional and organoleptic qualities. According to her, these fruits are rich in beta-carotene, vitamins C, E, B9, magnesium and minerals. When they are exposed to the sun for a long time, it alters their nutritional quality and degrades these vitamins especially since they are very sensitive to heat, light and oxygen.
Mrs. Ndayikengurukiye also said that excessive exposure to the sun also causes water loss in these fruits, which can make them drier and less juicy. This reduces their water intake, and also affects the concentration of nutrients.
In addition, the chemical structure of the sugars in those fruits changes, which affects their taste and digestibility. It is therefore advisable to store fruits away from sunlight, to preserve their nutritional and organoleptic properties.
Note that the consumption of fruits is one of the goals of the zero malnutrition program, initiated by the State.