Are you too impatient to wash vegetables and fruit before eating them raw? Then read this:
Are you someone who always dutifully rinses vegetables and fruit under the tap before eating them raw or processing them into a salad? Many people are sometimes too impatient for it, or it simply isn’t part of their routine, or they think it’s a shame to wash, for example, those delicate, beautiful raspberries. And is that a problem?
In the AD, two Flemish professors from the Department of Food Safety and Quality at Ghent University share their views. This is what they say about the issue of vegetables and fruit – wash or don’t wash?
Cold shower
According to professors Frank Devlieghere and Bruno De Meulenaer, you wash vegetables and fruit for two reasons: to remove pesticides and to rinse away insects, dirt, soil and dust. But when it comes to the first reason, do you actually wash away all pesticides under the tap? The water-soluble ones, yes, but not those contained in a waxy coating and soluble only in fat. And rinsing also does not completely remove microorganisms, says Devlieghere.
Strictly regulated
It is true, however, that the rules governing pesticide use by growers are very strict here, and most of it should have dissipated by the time the consumer gets hold of the product. As for harmful microorganisms, you can hardly protect yourself against them completely anyway. Fortunately, according to the gentlemen, the chances of becoming seriously ill from them are very small. Still, heating is actually the only protection against, for example, toxoplasmosis.
Crunchy critter removal
The second reason – removing dirt and little creatures – is so you don’t end up with unwanted crunch in your salad, and so you can start with food that is as hygienic as possible.
Be patient
And if you suddenly find yourself walking past orchards instead of in the city surrounded by plenty of delicious food and drink, think twice before picking an apple from a tree and eating it right away. Any pesticides that may have been used might only have broken down by the time the fruit reaches the shop or market.
Also read:
- 5x fruit and vegetable peels you shouldn’t throw away
- Great initiative! Dirk van den Broek wants VAT reduction on vegetables and fruit
- Fruit flies: 8 tips to get rid of them in no time
Source: AD
