Safer Produce Wash

Why Wash Your Produce?

While dirt can actually be good for us in many cases, we can’t know the source of the dirt when it comes to our produce (unless we are buying from local farms - and even then there can be heavy metals and the like in the soil), so washing our produce rids it of any unwanted and unhealthy dirt. 

Most produce, if not organic, contain extremely unhealthy amounts of external pesticides - especially those listed on EWG’s annual “Dirty Dozen” list. Long-term exposure to pesticides has been linked to cancer, nervous and reproductive system damage, birth defects, and immune system and GI tract disruption (1). The damage is even more severe for children. 

Produce is very likely to contain parasites like tapeworms, protozoans, and small intestinal roundworms, according to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. In fact, the CDC estimates that millions of Americans are infected with food borne parasites every year (2). 

DIY Options

Vinegar

• Place your produce in a large bowl

• Add 1/2 c vinegar for every 2 c water

• Soak for 5-10 minutes

• Rinse

• Air dry on dish towel to prevent sogginess

Baking Soda

• Place your produce in a large bowl

• Add 1 tsp baking soda to every 2 c water

• Soak for 15 minutes

• Rinse

• Air dry on dish towel to prevent sogginess

If you have both, you can even add 1 tsp baking soda to the water/vinegar mix and soak for 5-10 minutes

Sources:

1 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4947579/

2 cdc.gov/parasites/npi/index.html