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Thenew coronavirus pandemichas raised a lot of pressing questions about things that used to seem pretty set in stone.
Getty / Richard Drury
We know that thenew coronavirus appears to spreadmainly through respiratory droplets from people who have the infection.
Those facts can make the produce section of the grocery store somewhat nerve-racking.
Here, weve broken down how to wash fruit and vegetables to stay as safe as possible right now.
The new coronavirus could theoretically be on your produce before you wash it.
Poor farming practices can also contaminate your produce.
Based on what we know right now, though, the biggest pathogenic threat from produce isnt thenew coronavirus.
Instead, its various pathogens that can causefoodborne illness.
Is rinsing your fruit and vegetables enough?
(Yet, at least.)
When it comes tobig foodborne illness outbreaks, its sort of out of your hands as the consumer.
Outbreaks typically depend way more on systemic agriculture practices at farms, says Worobo.
Here’s how to wash most fruit and vegetables.
you might read tips here.
There’s no need to whip up a vinegar wash or waste money on a fancy produce spray.
Its simply not necessary.
So, always wash hard-skinned produce or anything with a peelbeforeyou start peeling or cutting it.
TheFDArecommends using a clean produce brush to more effectively scrub any potential pathogens from the skin.
(One example is the Casabella Loop Vegetable Brush; $6,Amazon.)
You don’t technically need to worry about washing any prewashed ready-to-eat produce, according to theFDA.
Once youre done washing your fruit and vegetables, you should wash your hands again.
These fruits and veggies are the exceptions to the rinse-and-rub rule.
It’s no secret thatberriesare extremely fragile.
In most cases, I can’t even make it home from the supermarket without smushing some of them.
(And kind of defeats the purpose of washing them.)
