Why Should I Wash My Fruits And Vegetables?

By: Ellie Ziegelbein

Not washing produce before you eat it isn’t always harmful, but rinsing and scrubbing it can help ward off digestive problems. Fruits and vegetables are not as clean as you would believe.

Your hands are not the only ones that have touched that food.

When produce is plucked from the ground or off a bush, vine, or tree, you and the farmers aren’t the only people touching it. “Not only does produce have to travel to the store, but it also has lots of hands touching it once it’s in the store,” says Samantha Presicci, RD, lead registered dietitian at Snap Kitchen. “Think about when you pick produce. Most of us pick up the produce, feel it, and make sure it’s ripe. After all, you can quickly pick the perfect melon by knowing if it’s ripe or not. That’s a lot of contact, and there’s no way to know if those that have touched it before you were sick or even if they washed their hands after using the bathroom.”

Produce can carry dangerous bacteria.

Bacteria from the farm can survive transportation and storage, which could spell trouble for your tummy. “Produce has many opportunities in which it can be contaminated, through the transportation process, from feces from the ground, or during food preparation. Sometimes dirty produce can result in foodborne sickness. We have seen recent outbreaks of veggies with E. coli, Salmonella, and more,” Janette Nesheiwat, MD, says. “This can result in nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, and fever, along with dehydration.”

You may eat some bugs.

Most fresh food is grown outdoors, so all the elements of nature can come into contact with your food before you do. “Often produce contains tiny insects or slugs which should be cleaned off before eating as they may taste bad,” says Elizabeth Girouard, certified holistic health coach and founder of Zing Meals, a gourmet meals business. “Generally, your stomach acid will handle them, but it may change the flavor of what you are eating.”

You can remove some herbicides and pesticides.

Both conventionally-grown and organic produce are treated with herbicides and pesticides. The type that’s used varies based on how the farmer is growing it. These chemicals can linger on fruit and vegetable skin. Washing will remove some of them and prevent them from ending up in your body.

“Most produce is sprayed with herbicides and pesticides to keep the bugs away. Some of the residual pesticides that remain on the outside of the produce can be washed away with water, or a mixture of water and baking soda or vinegar,” Girouard says. “Many pesticides can be harmful if ingested in large quantities, so washing helps to remove the surface chemicals.”

Washing removes dirt and debris.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are grown in dirt or on bushes, vines, or trees. That means they come into contact with soil, sand, grit, and other many natural products that might not be harmful but certainly won’t taste great. “Although some of this dirt isn’t necessarily harmful, it leaves your salads or meals with a horrible, gritty taste,” Girouard says.

Overall, ensuring that your fruit and vegetables are properly cleaned can lower the risk of eating unwanted entities. It is fairly simple to do, and I hope you can keep that in mind.