Dish soap cuts grease from plates, so adding a drop when washing fruit might seem like an extra cleaning step. An apple or cucumber, however, is food you will eat, and rinsing away the suds does not settle what remains.
If the surface looks clean and the bubbles have disappeared, why does the FDA advise against it?
Produce is porous, and soap or household detergent can be absorbed despite rinsing. The agency says those substances can make you sick, which is why its guidance calls for running water when washing fruits and vegetables.
The Problem Goes Beyond Visible Suds
A final rinse can remove the foam you see without guaranteeing that absorbed soap has gone. That makes appearance a poor way to judge whether fruit washed with detergent is ready to eat.
The FDA also advises against commercial produce washes, stating that the safety of their residues is unknown and their effectiveness has not been tested. A product marketed for fruit does not change the agency’s recommendation to use water.
Use Your Hands to Help the Water Work
Hold produce under running water and rub its surface with your hands. For firm items such as melons and cucumbers, use a clean vegetable brush to scrub the exterior.
The contact helps you work over the surface instead of letting water pass across one side. After washing, dry the produce with a clean cloth or paper towel.
Wash Before Removing the Peel
Discarding the skin can make washing seem unnecessary, but a knife passes through that outside layer before reaching the flesh. Peeling also brings your hands and tools into contact with the surface.
Rinse before peeling or cutting, so dirt and bacteria are less likely to transfer during preparation. Cut away bruised or damaged areas before using the produce.
Soap Still Has a Place in Preparation
Wash your hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds before and after handling fresh produce. Clean hands help prevent contamination during the washing and cutting stages.
Keep the preparation area clean as well, especially when switching from raw meat to food that will be eaten without cooking. Soap belongs in that cleaning process; the produce itself gets running water.
Check Bagged Greens Before Washing Again
Produce labeled “pre-washed” or “ready-to-eat” can be used without another wash. If you choose to rinse it, avoid unclean utensils and surfaces that could introduce contamination.
Washing other produce can reduce surface bacteria, but it does not eliminate every germ. Adding detergent does not turn that rinse into a food-safe disinfection step.
Sources: FDA — Selecting and Serving Produce Safely, FDA — 7 Tips for Cleaning Fruits and Vegetables.
Leave a Reply