Hi lindasew,
There are several schools of thought in regards to the cleaning of
produce of residual pesticide, and waxes.
Here are the recipes you asked for:
Homemade Veggie Wash
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/001127b.cfm
There are a couple recipes for washes at this link. The main
ingredients are water, white vinegar, baking soda, and lemon.
RECIPE #1 - Soaking
50/50 dilution of white vinegar and water. Soak for 5-10 minutes.
Rinse well. (Never soak mushrooms, they absorb water. Just rinse
well.)
RECIPE #2 - Spraying
1 Tablespoon of lemon juice to 2 Tablespoons of baking soda with 1 cup
of water. Put this mixture in a sprayer bottle. After spraying, let
produce sit for a few minutes. Rinse well.
RECIPE #3 - Detergent Recipe - I don't recommend this, but here it is.
"Consumer Reports" suggests scubbing with a weak solution of Palmovive
Dish Soap. Rinse very well.
Produce Washes Effective at Removing Pathogens
http://www.griffin.peachnet.edu/cfs/hottopics/producewashes.html
...""In the United States, there's very little produce with pesticide
residues anywhere near the allowed tolerance levels," said Elizabeth
Andress, an Extension Service food safety specialist with the UGA
College of Family and Consumer Sciences. "It would be hard to find
detectable levels of pesticide residues on our fruits and vegetables
even if you went looking for them."....."Even if the product does
remove wax, these are food-grade waxes that aren't harmful," Andress
said. "They're already approved for food use."..."
The University of Minnesota cites the USDA and the FDA in recommending
a plain water wash:
Wash Fruits and Vegetables - Why and How
..."Waxes are applied to help retain moisture, which keeps the produce
firm and crisp. Since the U.S. government regulates waxes for safety,
they are not harmful if eaten. Waxes cannot be removed by washing..."
"Here's how to wash fresh produce:
http://www.extension.umn.edu/info-u/nutrition/BJ779.html
1) Before working with any foods, hands should be washed with soap and
water. Also, make sure preparation areas are sanitary.
2) Under clean, running water, rub fruits and vegetables briskly with
your hands to remove dirt and surface microorganisms.
3) Wash produce just before serving - not before storing, as washing
will cause produce to spoil faster.
4) Produce with a firm skin or hard rind like carrots, potatoes,
melons or squash may be scrubbed with a vegetable brush and water.
5) Discard the outer leaves of leafy vegetables such as lettuce and
cabbage before washing.
6) Always wash squash and melons, even if you don't eat the rind or
skin because when cut, dirt or bacteria that is on the outer surface
can be transferred to the inner flesh.
7) DO NOT wash produce with detergent or bleach solutions. Fruits and
vegetables are porous and can absorb the detergent or bleach, which is
not intended for use on foods and consuming them on fruits and
vegetables have the potential to make you sick.
..."Commercial produce sprays or washes are available in some
supermarkets. These are currently being studied and in some cases may
help remove some soil, surface microbes and pesticides. Extension,
USDA, or FDA does not recommend these sprays or washes. No washing
method completely removes or kills all microbes, which may be present
on the produce. Washing produce with tap water is usually adequate.
Users of commercial produce washes are advised to consider the cost of
the product versus the potential benefit..."
Here is another interesting page:
A Recipe For Food Safety
http://www.cfs.purdue.edu/extension/newsrel/nr0505982.htm
There are directions for how to sterilize your cutting boards here.
This next link goes over cleaning and preparing specific fruits and vegatables:
BASICS OF COOKING LESSON #13 - PREPARING FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
FRUIT: http://busycooks.about.com/library/howtos/blvegfruit.htm
VEGETABLES: http://busycooks.about.com/library/howtos/blvegfruit2.htm
Here are some more links that may interest you:
National Food Safety Programs - FDA
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/%7Edms/fs-toc.html
Food Safety and Security: What Consumers Need to Know - USDA
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/topics/foodsec_cons.htm
Center for Disease Control - CDC
Food Safety Office: http://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/
Foodborne Illness: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/foodborneinfections_g.htm
Besides the recipes above, I hope I have given you addidional links
that you will find informative and useful. Thanks for visiting Google
Answers.
~~Cynthia-ga
Search terms used at Google:
remove wax produce
"produce wash" recipe
USDA produce safety
FDA produce safety |
