« The simplest and safest way to wash fresh produce is by hand, under cold, running water »
Eating fruits and vegetables every day is a great way to stay healthy – just make sure you wash them properly first.
While most people are aware of the dangers raw meat and fish can pose to health, many consider fresh produce to be « safe ». But each year, one in ten people gets ill by eating unsafe food – and approximately 46% of these cases of food-borne illness come from eating vegetables and fruit.
The fact is most fresh produce is grown in the open where anyone or anything – such as insects and birds – can touch it. This means as well as dirt, unwashed produce may contain a variety of potentially harmful matter – including bacteria, fungi, viruses and pesticides.
Fresh produce may also become contaminated during packaging, preparation or storage. Even produce grown in greenhouses hydroponically can still harbor germs and pesticides.
Washing fruits and vegetables is of real food safety importance. But what’s the best way to do it?
First, wash your hands. This prevents germs on your skin from contaminating the produce you’re cleaning.
The simplest and safest way to wash fresh produce is by hand, under cold, running water. Rub the fruits and veggies with your hands to remove dirt, pesticides and some surface germs. Wash until the surface no longer looks dirty. If you’re going to soak produce in water, make sure you use a clean bowl instead of the sink – which may be full of germs.
Never wash produce with detergent or bleach, as the skin of some fruits and veg are porous and could absorb these chemicals. This could not only change their taste and texture, but could make them unsafe to eat.
There are some safe chemical methods for cleaning your fruits and veggies (and which you may have already spotted on TikTok. Vinegar and baking soda can both be used to wash fresh produce. They can reduce bacteria and pesticides on the produce.
