Should you wash that apple you bought at the grocery store or farmer’s market? The short answer is yes. Skipping the step of rinsing fresh fruits and vegetables can increase your risk of foodborne illness and other health issues.
Why Does Washing Matter?
Produce can carry these contaminants:
- Microbes: Produce can carry Escherichia coli (E. coli), Salmonella, Listeria, norovirus, and other organisms that are found in contaminated water or soil, or introduced during transport and handling. Foodborne illnesses sicken nearly 48 million people in the United States each year.
- Chemical residues: Produce can have contamination from pesticides and other treatments, even if labeled “Certified Organic.”
- Dirt and debris: These can harbor microbes, insects, and inedible substances.
While washing won’t completely remove these contaminants, it can reduce levels to make your produce safer.
How Should You Wash Your Produce?
Follow these guidelines:
- Wash your hands: Before washing your produce, clean your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to prevent introducing germs and other contaminants to the produce.
- Remove damaged areas and outer leaves: Cut away bruised areas and remove the outer leaves of heads of lettuce and cabbage.
- Most produce: Wash for 10 to 20 seconds under cool running water.
- Fruits and vegetables with rough or hard skins: Scrub with a produce brush under running water.
- Do not use soap, bleach, or commercial washes: These can introduce chemicals that can be absorbed into the produce, and their safety and effectiveness have not been tested by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
- Once washed, handle produce safely: Use clean utensils and cutting boards that have not come into contact with raw meat and other sources of bacteria.
What About Using Vinegar in Washing Produce?
Washing produce with a vinegar solution, followed by rinsing with tap water, can reduce E. coli bacteria more effectively than rinsing with tap water alone. However, vinegar can introduce off-flavors and affect texture, so use it with caution.
Do You Need to Wash Pre-Washed Produce?
Produce in sealed bags labeled “pre-washed,” “ready-to-eat,” or “triple-washed” does not need to be washed again at home before you use it. Be sure to handle this produce safely to prevent contamination from produce that needs to be washed or contaminated surfaces or utensils.
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