Eating fruits and vegetables is essential for a healthy lifestyle, but it’s just as important to wash them correctly to remove harmful bacteria that could make you sick.
The Food and Drug Administration has highlighted that eating dirty produce can cause foodborne diseases. Recent incidents involving contaminated foods like lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, and cantaloupes highlight these dangers.
The increasing concern over pesticides on fruits and vegetables has led to the publication of an annual “Dirty Dozen” list, which identifies the produce with the highest levels of pesticides.
Carissa Galloway, a registered dietitian nutritionist and personal trainer, notes, “Think about the route your produce travels from the farm to your kitchen—through shipping, store handling, and exposure to different environments. This journey can add various pollutants.”
To make sure your fruits and veggies are safe to eat, the FDA advises a careful washing routine.
Here are the expert-endorsed steps to properly clean your produce before you eat it.
