Wash Produce Safely to Prevent Food Illness

Published:  10/29/2018

Eating a diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables gives many health benefits. But it’s important to select and prepare them safely since the CDC estimates that germs on fresh produce cause a large percentage of foodborne illnesses in the United States.

What can you do to protect yourself and your family from food poisoning? 

• Buy produce that is not bruised.
• Buy pre-cut produce that has been well refrigerated.
• Before prepping produce clean your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water both before and after preparation.
• Wash ALL produce thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting or cooking.
• Even if you plan to peel the produce before eating, it is still important to wash it first so dirt and bacteria aren't transferred from the knife onto the fruit or vegetable.
• Rinse all fruits and veggies with water, scrub firm produce with a brush, and pat dry with a paper towel to remove more dirt and bacteria. 
• Store perishable fresh fruits and vegetables (like strawberries, lettuce, herbs, and mushrooms) in a clean refrigerator at a temperature of 40°F or below. 
• Keep fruits and vegetables separate from raw foods that come from animals, such as meat, poultry, and seafood.
• Refrigerate fruits and vegetables within 2 hours after you cut, peel, or cook them (or 1 hour if exposed to temperatures above 90°, like a hot car or picnic).
• Wash cutting boards, dishes, utensils and counter tops with soap and hot water between the preparation of raw meat, poultry and seafood products and the preparation of produce that will not be cooked.
• Wash plastic or non-porous cutting boards in the dishwasher after use.
• Wash your produce in a clean pan in the sink instead of directly in the sink. Your sink provides a place for bacteria to thrive. Food particles in the sink serve as a breeding ground for illness-causing bacteria, including E. coli and salmonella. To prevent food illness bleach your sink every night.
• Washing fruits and vegetables with soap or detergent or using commercial produce washes is not recommended, says the CDC.
• Cut away any bruised areas on fresh fruits and vegetables before preparing and/or eating.
• Scrub firm produce, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean produce brush.