Fresh produce is a delicious and healthy way to get your daily supply of antioxidants. Unfortunately, produce can also be a source of bad bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli. Although the risk of acquiring an illness from eating contaminated produce is low, the consequences can be serious. There have been several recently publicized cases of produce serving as a source for bacterial illness that resulted in hospitalization of the unfortunate victims. How can you practice produce safety and avoid a similar fate? Here are some tips:
Always Wash Your Produce
Wash your produce even if you plan to peel off the skin. The process of cutting can allow bacteria to move from the skin to the inner parts of the fruit. The best way to wash produce is to rinse it in water rather than soaking it. Bacteria can enter the water you're soaking it in resulting in cross contamination of other parts of the produce. Hold your produce under clean tap water and rinse it thoroughly leaf by leaf.
Watch Where You Shop
Before you purchase produce at a supermarket, assess the level of cleanliness. Are the bins clean and the produce on display fresh and inviting? Supermarkets that have attention to detail are more likely to practice appropriate standards of cleanliness. Don't shop in a market that appears dirty or disorganized. They may not practice high cleanliness standards.
Remove Water After Rinsing
Produce that's still damp may have retained some of the bacteria from the previous washing. Thoroughly dry your produce before using it to remove any bacteria that may have been remaining in the rinse water.
Cook Your Produce When Possible
One of the best ways to ensure you don't become infected with bacteria is to cook your produce to a high enough temperature to kill any bad bacteria. This is generally accomplished by heating to great than 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Think of ways to create unique dishes with cooked vegetables to ensure your health and safety.
Use a Separate Cutting Board for Produce
Don't use the same cutting board for produce that you use for raw meats. Raw meat and poultry are a potential source for pathogenic bacteria that can cause illness and you run the risk of cross transmission when you use the same cutting board for both meats and produce. Keep your produce separated from your meat and poultry.
By following some common sense tips for selecting, cleaning and using produce, you can reduce the risk of exposing your family to bacterial illness and still enjoy the healthy benefits of fresh fruits and vegetables.
