Wash Your Fruits And Vegetables

A frustrating part of our culture is thinking other people are completing simple tasks which should be our responsibility. We take much for granted in our quest for an easier life. Thus, many of us get sick and question why.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are a necessity of life. They provide nutritional benefits that keep us healthy and full of energy. However, all foods must be clean or they can cause stomach aches, diarrhea or worse. Fruits, along with potatoes, leafy greens, tomatoes and sprouts and other "fresh" produce are the most likely to trigger food-borne illness. They can harbor salmonella, norovirus, E. coli and other problems if produce is exposed to contaminated water or mishandled during processing or shipping. Presented in the well-displayed isle of your favorite grocery store does NOT mean the fruits and vegetables are clean. The "mist" is not a way to clean the produce, it just makes them look fresh and enticing. They also can pick up microorganisms in your kitchen if you don't store or cook them properly, or if they come in contact with raw meat or seafood.

These are prudent instructions for the safety of you and your family:

• Wash your hands for before and after handling any and all produce.
• Cut away discolored or soft spots and outside or wilted leaves. Always cook sprouts.
• Wash produce in running water - use no soaps or disinfectants. Be certain to dry to further remove contaminants.
• Scrub firm produce like melons, potatoes or cucumbers with a vegetable brush. Dry well.
• Cooking produce to 160 degrees, for even a few seconds, will kill parasites, viruses and most bacteria. 

Better to be safe ... than to be sorry!