The two agencies of the United States government primarily responsible for consumer food safety issues have
offered the following similar advice to consumers regarding the proper
washing of fresh fruit:
-
“Thoroughly rinse raw fruits under running water
before eating them. Don’t use soap, detergents, or bleach solutions.
If necessary—and appropriate—use a small vegetable brush to remove
surface dirt. Try to cut away damaged or bruised areas—bacteria can
thrive in these places.” (U.S. Food and Drug Administration/Center for Food Safety and Applied
Nutrition)
-
“Before eating or preparing, wash fresh produce
under cold running tap water to remove any lingering dirt. This reduces
bacteria that may be present. If there is a firm surface, such as on
apples …, the surface can be scrubbed with a brush. Consumers should
not wash fruits or vegetables with detergent or soap. These products are
not approved or labeled by the Food and Drug Administration for use on
foods. You could ingest residues from soap or detergent absorbed on the
produce.” (United States Department of Agriculture/Food Safety and Inspection Service)
Consumers should be reassured that
fresh apples, pears, cherries, and other deciduous tree fruits shipped to
market by commercial packing houses located in the Pacific Northwest are
thoroughly washed, inspected, and graded prior to being placed in a clean
carton or other container for ultimate sale. Foreign material on the surface
of the fruit that might still be present from harvest in our orchards is
systematically brushed or washed off in the packing house. Fruit with any
defects, such as cuts or bruises, are carefully sorted out.
Sources: www.cfsan.fda.gov
and www.fsis.usda.gov
See also the Safe Handling of
Raw Produce and Fresh-Squeezed Fruit and Vegetable
Juices document prepared by FDA’s Center for Food safety
and Applied Nutrition.
The Northwest Horticultural
Council represents the deciduous tree fruit industry of Idaho,
Oregon and Washington on national and international policy issues affecting growers and shippers.
For further information, please contact
Deborah Carter, Technical Issues Manager, at (509) 453-3193 or by e-mail at carter@nwhort.org.
