FDA advises to clean fruits and vegetables

Fresh fruits and vegetables are a good source of vitamins and nutrients for the body. However, the FDA recommends washing vegetables properly before use to remove surface residue. Here is a guide on how to properly wash raw vegetables for you.

Cleaning food before use is always a necessary habit of each of us. Especially with green vegetables and fruits, the correct way of washing vegetables also brings many benefits to the health of users. So what is the effect of washing vegetables?
On vegetables can hide sandy soil, surface dirt after harvest, not to mention chemical fertilizers during their growth. If not washed clean vegetables will bring bacteria into the stomach causing serious health effects. In addition, eating unhygienic food will increase your risk of diarrhea, cholera, intestinal infections ....
Even if you buy vegetables at a clean agricultural store, you should not neglect hygiene. born before processing. In dishes using raw vegetables, the way vegetables are washed is a decisive factor in the safety of the users themselves. According to research, a large part of bacteria and surface residue will be removed when we have a sense of properly washing raw vegetables.

It is estimated that millions of people each year suffer from food poisoning or gastrointestinal diseases. More surprisingly, the cause of this symptom is mostly caused by bacteria or food poisoning. For this reason, each of us needs to understand and properly wash vegetables to ensure food safety and hygiene.
If each of us forms a habit of cleaning food, the problem of food poisoning will be significantly reduced. However, some people believe in buying clean vegetables or picking their own vegetables, so they will be subjective and ignore washing before processing. Also, vegetables can become a source of infection for many dangerous diseases.
According to research analysis from health authorities, there are many sources of toxic contamination from raw vegetables. Everything that exists in the vegetable growing area, if not guaranteed, will be the cause of the product quality not as expected. In addition, vegetables that are not properly preserved after being purchased will create conditions for bacteria to penetrate and harm the health of users.
To avoid the risk of digestive diseases or bacterial poisoning when choosing to buy, you need to pay attention to choose fresh vegetables to limit crushing damage. In addition, FDA recommends that you follow these 7 tips to ensure effective fruit and vegetable cleaning:
Before handling produce always wash your hands with warm salt water for 20 seconds. In addition, you can use antibacterial soap for hands to eliminate harmful bacteria. Stains problems on vegetables can spread quickly. You need to observe and remove them to keep the vegetables fresh. The pulp of fruits and some tubers acts as a protective layer that prevents some bacteria from getting inside. So they need to be cleaned whether you keep them or throw them away. At the same time, kitchen utensils also pay attention to cleanliness to avoid cross-contamination of bacteria to food.

No need to use soap or detergent for food. You just need to use water to wash away the dirt on the vegetables. With some tubers such as carrots or cucumbers because they are hard and less damaged, you can use a brush to scrub the surface. This way will clean deeply and ensure food safety and hygiene. Because the humid environment can create conditions for bacteria to enter, you should dry it with a paper towel after cleaning to prevent bacteria from returning. For multi-layered vegetables such as cabbage or group of vegetables with skin, you should remove the outermost layer. With vegetables and fruits to ensure freshness, you should store them cold or keep them at a cool temperature. Except for water, some people also use vinegar, lemon, ... to clean food. However, according to studies, washing with water or salt water is the best and safest for users.
According to recommendations from medical organizations, cleaning chemicals temporarily remove harmful bacteria but cause us to absorb them when used. And lemon or vinegar will lose the nutritional balance of the food after processing.
The best way to clean and ensure food freshness is to use cool water. Most cleaning agents or detoxification methods are not very effective. Just gently rubbing on the leaves of vegetables or the surface of the fruit with the help of water can also clean them.

Using cool water to clean fruits and vegetables before eating is essential. In addition to ensuring food safety, you can also protect yourself from invading bacteria. At the same time, this action is extremely necessary for subjects with intestinal diseases.
Note do not use food immediately after washing. You need to drain the food and store it carefully to prevent bacteria from returning. In addition to bacteria from food, our hands, due to frequent contact, also contain many disease-causing bacteria.
With fruits and vegetables, after purchasing, you should consider using them if they are damaged or abnormally changed. If there is only bruising or bruising in a small area, remove the damaged part and the rest can still be used normally. Wash with water and then cut off the damaged part to avoid cold water containing bacteria from entering the meat.
With some tough fruits such as apples, pears, lemons, potatoes... you can use a soft bristle brush to clean the surface. In this way, the dirt will be cleaned more deeply and safely when used. As for greens, always discard the unused outer layer. The rest of the vegetables can be soaked in salt water, then washed, drained and processed normally.
Some berries or plants like mushrooms are quite difficult to clean. This is also the reason that they often contain a lot of dirt and grit when used. You need to gently clean and adjust the water flow to a light level to avoid damage and allow dirt to follow.

Finally, the food needs to be thoroughly dried to prevent bacteria from entering. You need to pay attention to this step to be gentle to avoid spoiling the food. Washing raw vegetables properly is a good habit that brings many health benefits. When surface residues are removed you also reduce the risk of certain diseases.
Surely washing vegetables has what effect you already know. A small action, but if not formed from the beginning, can also be harmful to our health. You can find out more information on how to wash fruits and vegetables or consult a nutritionist for detailed instructions.

References: fda.gov, healthline.com