How to wash fruit and vegetables

Advice on storing, washing and preparing fruit and vegetables to prevent food poisoning, including E. coli.
It is important to wash all fruit and vegetables before you eat them to ensure they are clean and safe to eat.
Most people are aware of the importance of handling meat safely, but many consider the risk of food poisoning from
vegetables to be low.
Its a myth that a little bit of dirt doesnt do you any harm, says Dr ndrew !adge, chief scientist of the "ood #tandards
gency $"#%.
#oil can sometimes carry harmful bacteria and, although food
producers
have good systems in place to clean vegetables, the risk can never be entirely eliminated.
&hose risks were highlighted in the '()) *scherichia coli $*. coli% outbreak in the +,. #oil stuck on leeks and potatoes is
thought to have been the source of the outbreak, which involved '-( cases of *. coli infection.
Washing veg
Don.t /ust hold vegetables under a running tap. 0ub them under water, for e1ample in a bowl of fresh water. #tart with the least
soiled items first and give each of them a final rinse.
How should fruit and vegetables be washed?
!ashing will help to remove bacteria including *.coli from the surface of fruit and vegetables.
Most of the bacteria will be in the soil attached to the produce. !ashing to remove any soil is, therefore, particularly
important.
!hen you wash vegetables, don.t /ust hold them under the running tap. 0ub them under water, for e1ample in a bowl of
fresh water. #tart with the least soiled items first and give each of them a final rinse.
!ashing loose produce is particularly important as it tends to have more soil attached to it than pre2packaged fruit and
vegetables.
It is always advisable to wash all fruit and vegetables before you eat them to ensure that they are clean and to help
remove bacteria from the outside.
3eeling or cooking fruit and vegetables can also remove bacteria.
What is the key advice for safely storing, handling and cooking raw vegetables?
lways wash hands thoroughly before and after handling raw food, including vegetables.
,eep raw food, including vegetables, separate from ready2to2eat foods.
+se different chopping boards, knives and utensils for raw and ready2to2eat foods, or wash these items
thoroughly in between uses.
4heck the label 2 unless packaging around vegetables says 5ready2to2eat you must wash, peel or cook
them before eating.
How can I avoid cross-containation?
It is better to rub fruit and vegetables under a bowl of water, rather than under a running tap. &his will help reduce
splashing and the release of bacteria into the air that could result from cleaning directly under a running tap. &ry to wash
the least soiled items first and give each of them a final rinse.
6rushing off dry soil before washing may help reduce the amount of washing re7uired to clean the vegetables
thoroughly.
Its also important to clean chopping boards, knives and other utensils after preparing vegetables to prevent cross2
contamination. 0ead more about "ood safety.
How do bacteria get onto vegetables?
6acteria can get onto fruit and vegetables in several ways. &hey may be present in water used for irrigation, organic
fertilisers and droppings from birds and other animals that go into fields.
!hould people who ight be vulnerable to infection handle raw vegetables?
&here are no indications that loose vegetables are regularly contaminated with *.coli or other harmful bacteria.
3eople who are vulnerable to infection, such as pregnant women, the elderly or anyone with a weakened immune
system, should follow the guidelines on preparation and good hygiene carefully. &here is no need for them to avoid
preparing such foods.
If children handle loose vegetables as part of food preparation, shopping or in craft activities they should be encouraged
to wash their hands afterwards.
How should I handle loose vegetables when out shopping?
&he risk of infection from handling loose vegetables remains small as long as good hygiene practice is observed.
Its not necessary or practical to wash your hands after handling loose vegetables or fruit every time youre out
shopping.
If you intend to eat foods immediately after shopping then it would be advisable to wash your hands and those of any
children that might have handled loose vegetables.
!hen selecting loose vegetables, bear in mind that more heavily soiled vegetables may take longer to prepare at home.
!hould I avoid buying vegetables with soil on the?
8o. #ome vegetables are always sold with some soil on them. Its good practice to remove as much soil as possible
when preparing vegetables.
9oose vegetables may involve a bit more preparation than if they are pre2packed but as long as this is done carefully
then there is no need to avoid them.
6ear in mind that more heavily soiled vegetables may take longer to prepare for cooking.
It is also important to note that although soil was considered to be the most likely source of the contamination, this is not
known for certain.
Why have we now seen a proble with vegetables?
&he cause of the *. coli outbreak in the +, is still unclear and investigations are under way to find the source and to
prevent a similar outbreak.
&here have been several previous outbreaks linked to salad vegetables, which are consumed raw.
:owever, illness linked to root vegetables is much less common because most root vegetables are cooked before being
eaten.
&here is always a risk of harmful bacteria on loose vegetables spreading to other food if produce is not stored, washed
and cooked properly.