In a country with food shortages, each Portuguese family wasted around 124 kilos of food per inhabitant in 2020, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Eurostat. And, according to a statement by Francisco Mello e Castro, coordinator of the United Against Waste Movement, which brings together 300 entities in Portugal, "more than 50% of food waste continues to happen in our homes".

Aware of this, nutritionist Rita Teixeira used Instagram to explain the reason why some foods ripen quickly. "Bananas, melons, apples, avocados and tomatoes are foods that accelerate the ripening process of other foods", she says, in a video posted on the social network.

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"Some fruits and vegetables naturally emit ethylene gas - harmless and odorless - throughout the ripening process, which, when close to foods more sensitive to this gas, causes them to ripen faster", she explains. Therefore, to extend the shelf life of these fruits and vegetables, the best thing to do is: separate them.

Watch the video below:

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A post shared by RITA TEIXEIRA | Nutricionista vegetariana (@ritateixeira_nutricionista)

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