Good Lifestyle

The washing product is always important, but given the currentcoronavirus pandemic,Make sure your food is clean and safe to eat is more crucial than ever before.

Many products (cucumbers, peaches, peppers, etc.) are often on supermarket shelves without any additional protection. Knowing thatCoronavirus can be transmitted via direct contactYou may think twice to reach fresh fruit. Although scientists have discovered that Covid-19 can not live on surfaces very long,including productsDo you really think of bringing home an apple that dozens of others may have affected without cleaning it properly before you collapsed? Pandemic or not, the answer is probably no.

That's why we talked to a team of dietitians, nutritionists and food security experts to find out how to wash vegetables and fruits properly. These pros guided us by all why it is necessary toFollow Coronavirus Food Security GuidelinesAlways clean your products, the best ways to wash different types of products and additional steps you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones because the CVIV-19 crisis continues.

Why is it important to wash your products?

You should wash your products, whether the company is in the pandemic or not. Because the products are crossing several steps to get to your kitchen (harvest, packaging, shipping, being placed on shelves in the grocery store, you put it in your cart), it is important to make sure it is also clean as possible. After all, you do not know where this lettuce in your salad was or what it touched. In addition, the consumption of unwashed products could increase your chances of contracting a disease of food origin.

"Products can be contaminated by the growth phase where it may be exposed to soil contamination, animals or humans when it is bought and stored," said Susan Pierreorge, Ms., RDN, dietary nutritionist registered for The rainbow light and the calm natural vitality that quotes Glenda Lewis, expert in food origin with the American administration of food and drugs. "The products may shelter microorganisms (such as bacteria or fungi), as well as traces of chemicals."

Diseases of food origin aside, pesticides used to maintain insects and insects of our food during growth can also damage their own right. "Today, agriculture has advanced and the use of chemicals such as pesticides for better yield has increased," says Caroline Bicout, who works with, the ultrasonic vegetable cleaner,Sonic soak. "However, pesticides and other chemicals used in agriculture have taken harmful consequences for quality and possibly, the health of people."

Bricout emphasizes that pesticides can be related to cancer. In fact, a 2011 summary of various studies in theOfficial publication of the College of Family Physicians of Canada As most studies on non-Hodgkin lymphoma and leukemia have shown positive associations with pesticide exposure. The literature also showed positive associations between exposure to pesticides and solid tumors.

As bicut says, "It's always good to wash food."

RELATED: Your ultimate survival guide and supermarket is here!

What is the best way to wash your products?

Believe it or not, wash your product properly is not all that different to wash your hands at the end of the day. "You can wash your food thoroughly in the same way that the government recommends washing your hands (with a minimum of 20 seconds), or you can use an ultrasonic cleaner who is, without a doubt, the most effective way to clean your food, "says Bricout.

Nevertheless, while items such as ultrasound cleaners or vegetable washes can give you some peace of mind (especially in uncertain moments like these), say they are not needed. "Washing products do not need to include specific detergent or fancy vegetable washing according to food and medicine administration," Shaw explains. "Simply use running water to help" wash "the products."

You will find below some additional product cleaning tips:

• Wash your hands first: Like Rachel Berman, R & D and General Manager ofVery well Emphasies, it is crucial to ensure that your hands are clean before putting your legs on your products. "Before washing the products, make sure to wash your hands with soap and water, because we should all do anyway anyway," she says.
• Remove the bruised or damaged portions of your products:Pierreorge emphasizes, by the FDA, which choosing products that are neither damaged nor bruised are crucial. "And make sure that pre-cut objects, such as lettuce bags or watermelon slices, are refrigerated or on the ice in the store and at home," she says. "If damage or bruising occur before eating or manipulating, cutting damaged or bruised areas before preparing or eating."
• Keep an eye on packaged products: "Although most pre-packaged products are generally clean, the only problem with pre-packaged products (ie apples in a package) is that you can have trouble seeing if there is has severe mussels or bruising on one of the products of the products. In the bag before buying it, "says Amanda A. Kostro Miller, R & D, LDN, which serves on the advisory board forFitter Living. "So when it is possible, try to choose individual products so you can choose the best product in the bouquet."
• Wash your product just before eating or cooking: "Generally, to prevent foodborne diseases from bacteria, people should rinse and rub their products under a racing valve immediately before eating or cooking," says Berman. "Washing and storage of wet products creates an environment where more bacteria can grow. If the fruit or the legacy contains unnecessary skin, make sure to rinse well before peeling or cutting to prevent the bacteria from move in the flesh you eat. "
• Give your product a shower: According to Miller, consumers should look like the washing of their products to give it a "shower". "Do not fill your sink to leave the product soak in the water," she says. "Keep the faucet running and give your product a beautiful fresh shower, rather than a bath."
• Beware of the drain: "A clean bowl may be better than a sink, because the drainage zone can have more microorganisms," says Piergorge, citing a study ofExtension of Colorado State University.
• Skip the soap: "Rinse with light cleaning (without soap) can also help eliminate dirt or bacteria that we do not want to contaminate the interior of the products when we cut it," said Miller.

Miller also notes that the water washing products of the fresh valve before consumption or cooking address many concerns raised above. "First of all, rinsing with water can help eliminate certain pesticide residues that can be on products. Most pesticides are regulated by the EPA and the amount of pesticide that is transferred to our products when we l 'Buy in the safety limits of the EPA. "She says.

What about products taken?

With regard to fruits and vegetables that are labeled as "pre-washed", our experts have been divided. "As for the washing taken, it depends on who you ask," says Pierreorge.

The arguments of washing vegetables and pre-washed fruits:

"Sometimes the products can become contaminated by the way you are touched, washed and prepared and stores it. Some evidence indicates that premature products may have less contamination compared to products that have not been taken. Cooking can Also destroy a number of microorganisms but not all. "

As Berman says, "preaching is not a regulated complaint of the FDA, so you better rinse to be safe." And the nutritional expert based in San Diego Elizabeth Shaw, MS, RDN, CPT, which is also the author and the owner ofSIMPLE SHAW SWAPS accepted.

"Take appropriate food security precautions with your products, it's always a good idea, no matter what the packing says. There are many different steps in the production of premature and pre-cut products, which means several areas in which potential food safety issues can come. At stake. While many organizations and companies have great processes and procedures in place, these products are always subject to human error (as well as environmental concerns), "says Shaw.

The arguments against washing vegetables and pre-washed fruits:

Nevertheless, there are those who disagree. "The FDA advises against washing pre-washed or triple bags with ready-to-eat products (such as spinach or lettuce). This is because at home, you have a higher risk of contaminating food" , declaresToby Amidor, MS, RD, CDN, Fand and author ofThe best book of rotisserie chicken recipes. "I visited several facilities where they clean lettuce and guidelines are extremely strict and regulated (probably cleaner than most kitchens!). If you choose to wash the products that are labeled as" pre-washed "or" Ready to eat 'then make sure to avoid contact with impure surfaces to prevent cross-contamination. "

Miller says, "For the Greens who are labeled as" pre-washed "or" ready to eat "or" ready to eat ", do not wash these objects, because the washing will not improve their cleanliness. In addition, any moisture. Added can cause wilt or microbial growth. "

Should fruits and vegetables be washed differently or more carefully than others?

In general, the washing of all products using the methods and tips above are sufficient to keep you safe. As Bricout says it, "All the green and vegetables must be thoroughly washed, whatever their shape."

Miller said, "According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, all the products must be washed, even with edible peel or unpieces." Products with edible peels include apples, fisheries and grapes, while the production of unpublished peels includes bananas, lawyers and oranges.

"All that is on the skin of the products can be pushed into the pulp of the product when we start to cut with a knife or peel with our fingers (in the case of an orange for example," says Miller.

Exactly how to wash the most common fruits and vegetables.

Here are some specific tips for the food you can keep in mind:

• Apples: "You do not need to clean the softer production skins (that is apples) if you are able to rinse all parts of the fruit," says Miller.
• Fresh herbs: "All fresh herbs should be washed and wrapped in paper towels," says Kate Lacroix, the owner of a dining building service calledStocked.
• Grapes and strawberries: Miller notes that smaller products have its own set of rules. "For products that are small like strawberries or grapes, place the berries in a colander and rinse with running water," she says. "Make sure to leave the bays / raisins dry. It is also important to dry the products after washing so that all the water is removed and moisture has not taken in the products. Dry products with A clean cloth before storing it properly. "
• Green Greens: "For leaves with leaves and produce like cabbage with external leaves, it is recommended to discard (or compost) the outer leaves and to overwhelm the products into the fresh water, then rinse," says Shaw.
• MELONS, CANTALOUP AND PINAAS: For textured fruits such as this, Miller says "Cleaning with a brush to produce is particularly important".
• Root vegetables: Shaw says: "For potatoes and other root vegetables, you can use a designated scrubbing brush for products to get dirt and debris of water."
• Spinach (and other loose leaves): "Loose leaves that are not pre-washed can be placed in a bowl of cold water (or salad spinner), turned around 30 seconds, drained and reformulated and re-spun once again (for a total Two cycles) before drying and cooking, "said Miller.

What additional precautions should you take in the light of the Pandemic of Covid-19?

Again, the information we have provided so far are more than enough for your product of all kinds to be safe to consume. However, if you feel a little worried in the light of the current coronavirus pandemic, there are additional advice that might be useful for keeping in mind. (And cleaning products with bleach or any other detergent are certainly not one of them.)

• Use gloves. "The safest thing you can do at the age of coronavirus is to use gloves to unpack and immediately throw packaging," says Lacroix. "The incidence of Covid-19 capture of food is very low but gives everything a rinse is a good way to make sure you do what you can stay healthy."
• Clean your kitchen. Miller notes that cleaning your kitchen and your specific food preparation areas (in addition to your own hands) is also essential to prevent all unwanted germs. "Make sure you disinfect your counters before placing your products on the counter," says Miller. "Also, beware of your faucet and make sure to disinfect the buttons / nozzle. You will go home, turn the tap with dirty hands, then turn it off with clean hands after washing. Then you Could transform the button again to wash your products potentially in contact with bacteria or viruses on the buttons. "
• Wash your hands. "Rinsing your products is important, but you wash your hands when the food handling is even more important. In the light of coronavirus, be sure to wash your hands with soap and water before manipulating your food and before washing the products, "she says.
• Cook all products. "If you are more concerned, considerCook your products Via steam, roasting or cooking pressure to help kill bacteria, says Shaw.

RELATED:7 guidance for cooking safely in the middle of the coronavirus

Nevertheless, Amidor stresses that these additional steps will probably not have much impact given the nature of the virus. "In terms of COVID-19, there is no evidence that fresh products (neither other food products or other products / materials) can transmit the virus," she says.

"However, like other viruses, it is possible that the virus causes Covid-19 to survive on surfaces or objects and that is why it is important to follow the four key steps of food security that includesclean, separate, cooking and cooling. "