Fresh fruits and vegetables have so many health benefits, but they can also be a source of pesticide residues and bacterial contamination that can lead to food borne illness unless precautions are taken. You may remember the spinach food poisoning outbreak of 2006 when more than two-hundred people were sickened from contaminated spinach. Five people died during this food poisoning outbreak – all while trying to do something healthy for their body. To avoid the threat of food poisoning and to remove unhealthy pesticides, people are often advised to wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating them. But is this enough? Does washing vegetables and fruits remove the potentially deadly bacteria and pesticides?

Unfortunately washing fruits and vegetables in running water doesn’t completely remove bacteria associated with food poisoning. This is particularly true for vegetables and fruits that have crevices where bacteria can hide such as the outer rind of a cantaloupe. One easy way to reduce the risk of food borne illness is to wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly and then peel off the outer coating before preparing them. The wash cycle should be repeated once the outer skin has been removed. Unfortunately, the outer peel of some fruits and vegetables is a good source of polyphenols and fiber that’ll be discarded using this method. Peeling away the skin also reduces pesticide residues, although the best way to reduce exposure to pesticides is to buy organic.

There are a variety of commercial fruit and vegetable washes on the market that claim to remove bacteria and pesticide residues from fruits and vegetables more effectively than water. Unfortunately, these products haven’t proven to be any more effective than washing vegetables and fruits in water, and they often come with a hefty price tag. A better solution is to wash fruits and vegetables in a dilute vinegar solution using a clean sponge to scrub the surface, and then rinsing thoroughly. This should be done right before eating the produce since it removes the protective coating that prevents premature spoilage. Some sources recommend washing vegetables and fruits in dishwashing detergent or a dilute bleach solution. Avoid this practice since these products can leave a residue on the fruit or vegetable that could be harmful.

To reduce exposure to pesticide residues on fruit and vegetables, buy organic produce whenever possible. Organic fruits and vegetables should be washed as thoroughly as conventional ones since they’re not immune to bacterial contamination just because they’re grown organically. Make it a practice to wash packaged salad mixes even if they’re labeled “triple washed”. Don’t take any chances when it comes to food borne illness.

Filed under: Fitness

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