To wash or not to wash? It’s a question that has been debated for decades. Some people say it’s just all one big hoax, while others swear by the practice. The truth is that washing your fruits and vegetables is essential, even if you don’t eat them raw. There are many reasons why this practice is critical. So to be safe, this article will look at some of the reasons why you need to wash your fruits and vegetables before you eat them.
Contents
Remove Pesticides
Although there are different pesticides, some are more harmful than others. A study found that if you don’t wash your fruits and vegetables, it could cause them to retain residue from pesticides. This is because the pesticide often sticks to the surface of the fruit or vegetable. One example is Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), used as an insecticide and banned in 1972. This pesticide causes many health problems such as damage to the nervous system, reduced reproductive abilities, and breast cancer. Other plants can also absorb these pesticides if they are in the same soil, which means you could be ingesting them when eating vegetables from that other plant.
Remove Dirt
Surprisingly, dirt isn’t good for you. Many fruits and vegetables have bacteria on them after picking. This occurs because the fruit or vegetable has come into contact with air, water, or other objects that may have had bacteria on them. One example is if a person was picking apples off of a tree then grabbed an orange. The next apple would now have the bacteria from the orange. This is why you need to wash your fruits and vegetables before eating them. Washing your produce makes sure you are not consuming any extra dirt or bacteria that came into contact with it during the manufacturing process.
Reduce The Risk Of Foodborne Illness
Another reason you need to wash your fruits and vegetables is that it reduces the risk of foodborne illnesses. These are often from bacteria on unwashed produce. E. coli is one example, which could come from meat, feces, or unpasteurized milk products. Listeria is another, which could come from the soil, water, or animals that have been infected. Many other illnesses could be from unwashed produce, such as salmonella and norovirus.
Remove Any Insects
Insects crawling on your fruit or vegetable is never a good thing. They could carry harmful bacteria and parasites with them as they crawl around, which means there’s always a risk of transferring it to you via the produce. Insects may also feed on the food, so if their saliva gets into the product, you could ingest it. This can make you sick or even kill you, depending on what type of parasite it is. By washing your produce before eating it, this risk decreases.
How To Wash Produce
Washing your produce is simple, but you must do it correctly. To start, gather some cold water in a large bowl or sink. Add the desired amount of fruit or vegetables to the water and let them soak for ten minutes. Next, transfer them to a colander and rinse them under running water. Use a brush to scrub the dirt off of any items. If you don’t have either of these items, then you can use your hands to delicately scrub the surface of the fruit or vegetable while rinsing it with running water. Be sure not to use soap because it can leave behind a residue.
Conclusion
Washing your fruits and vegetables is a crucial step to take when preparing them for consumption. This process is simple and doesn’t require much effort on your part. All it takes is a few extra minutes to ensure your health stays protected. This is because they can come into contact with many outside sources, which could increase the risk of foodborne illness if not washed before eating. So to be safe, it is best to make sure all your fruits and vegetables are clean and ready to eat.
