Seeded, store-bought Pomegranate seeds smell and taste like acetone, paint thinner

The other day, I posted a video by Dr. Berg on ways to reverse early signs of dementia.  One of his recommendations was to eat vegetables that provide a diverse gut microbiome. One vegetable he suggested were sprouts, specifically broccoli sprouts for the sulforaphane content.  

One food that I've liked for its benefits on microbiome is pomegranate seeds.  These also protect your cells against spike proteins attaching to the surface of your cells. But an important caveat is this: buy and consume the fresh fruit inside the skin.  If you purchase the seeds already  pulled and packaged into a cup,  you'll find in the chilled, single-serving fruit section, you'll find those seeds smelling like acetone, in other words, nail polish remover.  This is not just my opinion.  

The fact is confirmed by a handful of other conscientious consumers who were equally shocked by the experience.  Here is one:

Pomegranate seeds that smell like nail polish remover are almost certainly a bit past their best. I’ve noticed a distinct acetone odour on pomegranate seeds myself, twice before. Both times, the smell was on pre-picked and packaged seeds; I've never noticed it on a whole fruit.  The acetone in nail polish remover is produced industrially by the cumene process; alkylation of benzene by propylene to form cumene, which is oxidised to acetone and phenol. Acetone, however, is also an occasional waste product of the metabolism of sugar by yeasts, which are ubiquitous and do very well on the skins of fruits. As a somewhat successful sourdough home baker, I’ve cultivated my own sourdough starter using chopped grapes to get things started and have noticed many times that the mixture takes on an acetone smell- usually when it needs refreshing (dumping half and replacing with fresh water/flour).

So, in answer to your question, no, pomegranate seeds are not SUPPOSED to taste of acetone, but they probably will do if they’re a bit old, and it’s probably due to yeast.

Acetone is quite volatile, so even a small quantity will be readily detectable by our noses. However, it’s not particularly toxic if ingested. That said, the pomegranate taste would definitely be ruined, so I’d chuck em out . . . . 

Instead, buy the orbed fruit, split the ball open, and enjoy nutritious seeds.