Most people don’t wash fruit and veggies when they intend to peel their skin. And it makes sense in a way. Why would you wash something that you will remove seconds later? Well, it turns out you should, and there is a pretty good reason for doing this, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Washing Fruit and Veggies
The CDC recently shared some guidelines that will help consumers safely enjoy fruit and veggies. One of the most important steps in ensuring this is washing these food items before consuming them, even if you are about to remove the skin.
The skin of the fruit and veggies can contain all sorts of germs and bacteria (Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria) that lead to food poisoning. So, even if you are peeling the skin you risk spreading those germs and bacteria to the meat of the fruit and veggies when you cut into it with your peeling tool.
The CDC’s recommendation is to wash or scrub the fruit and vegetable items under running water and then drying them with a clean paper towel. You should never use anything else than water, as soap or detergent can spoil the fruit and cause unwanted consequences.
Fruit and Veggies Recommendations
Besides washing the fruit and veggies, the CDC also recommends that you cut away any bruised or damaged parts before consuming them. Also, you should never store fruit and veggies alongside raw food like meat and poultry, as you risk cross-contamination.
