Best practices for washing fruit & vegetables

It is common knowledge that fresh produce should be cleaned before eating to prevent illness caused by contamination; however, many do not know the best practices for washing their fruit or vegetables. According to Glenda Lewis, an expert on foodborne illness with the Food and Drug Administration: “Fresh produce can become contaminated in many ways. During the growing phase, produce may be contaminated by animals, harmful substances in the soil or water, and poor hygiene among workers. After produce is harvested, it passes through many hands, increasing the contamination risk. Contamination can even occur after the produce has been purchased, during food preparation, or through inadequate storage.” The best solution to clean your fresh produce is amazingly simple: water. That is right, only plain water! All produce should be washed under running water while gently rubbing with clean hands. A clean vegetable brush can be used to scrub firm produce such as melons or cucumbers. For produce with leaves or outer layers, such as cabbage or lettuce, the outermost leaves should be removed. After rinsing, the fresh produce should then be dried with a clean cloth or paper towel to further reduce bacteria that may be present. The FDA states, “Nearly 8 million people are sickened by food contaminated with harmful germs each year.” During this global pandemic, CATALYTIC GENERATORS wants to ensure the public is aware of these practices to lessen the spread of germs and illness (see Picture 2, COVID-19 prevention tips from Catalytic Generators). Source:U.S Food & Drug Administration, Office of the. “7 Tips for Cleaning Fruits, Vegetables.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, 10 June 2018, www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/7-tips-cleaning-fruits-vegetables.