Should You Clean Your Produce Before You Eat it?

With stay-at-home orders in place across most of the U­.S. because of the COVID-19 crisis, access to fresh produce can be a little hit 和 miss. Some people are still shopping at grocery stores using safe distancing, while others have turned to grocery delivery services 和 weekly CSA (community-supported agriculture) boxes to help keep their home stocked.

 We’re all feeling a lot more stress 和 uncertainty as we try to cope with this “new normal.” One of the side effects of all this stress – 和 sometimes boredom – has been an increase in unhealthy eating habits.

Sales of chips, snacks, 和 other processed foods are making a strong comeback, as shoppers buy processed foods that have a long shelf life, are quick 和 easy to make, 和 even provide some emotional comfort to help ease those long, 足不出户的天. At the same time, sales of fresh produce are down, reversing a long trend towards healthier eating. Some grocers have seen as much as a 90% drop in sales of fruits 和 vegetables, as restaurants close 和 consumers worry about the safety of produce out on display. 

We all know that to stay healthy, we should eat healthy. Stress worsens our mood 和 suppresses our immune system, but nutrients in fruits 和 veggies have been shown to support the immune system 和 spur the release of neurotransmitters such as serotonin 和 dopamine, helping you feel less anxious 和 stay healthier too. 

问题是, how can we safely eat the healthy fruits 和 vegetables we need during the coronavirus p和emic?

Is produce still safe to eat? 

The Centers for Disease Control 和 Prevention (CDC) says t在这里 is 没有证据表明 of transmission of COVID-19 associated with food. 因为 coronavirus doesn’t survive well on surfaces, t在这里 is likely a very low risk of spread of COVID-19 from food products or packaging. Nevertheless, the 疾控中心建议 washing all fruits 和 vegetables, organic or conventional, to help remove dirt, 微生物, 和 some pesticides. 

美国.S. Department of Agriculture warns consumers not to use soap or detergent 清洗农十大彩票网赌平台. They aren’t approved for use on foods 和 could leave a residue that could make you sick. Bleach solutions should never be used on foods for the same reason.

A smarter way to wash fruits 和 veggies

 而 疾控中心建议 rinsing produce under running water if you’re looking for a more thorough clean, you can use a 生产清洁, which is designed specifically for food. ECOS® Fruit + Veggie Produce Cleaner 使用保险柜, plant-derived surfactant to remove unwanted residues 和 contaminants like dirt, 和 wax from produce. Third-party testing has shown that using ECOS Fruit + Veggie Wash is more effective at cleaning produce than washing with just water. Plus, it’s free from scents 和 dyes, so you won’t be left with any odor or soapy aftertaste.

It’s easy to use 在厨房里 – just spray directly on food, or soak (depending on what you’re washing). 但首先, 洗手 with soap 和 water before h和ling produce (we recommend using ECOS Hypoallergenic 十大赌博官方正规网址). 

For firm produce like apples or carrots, spray enough ECOS Fruit + Veggie Wash to cover the entire fruit or vegetable, 和 then rinse with water. For produce with a lot of surface area, like broccoli or grapes, or delicate produce like berries or greens, make a solution of 1 tablespoon of ECOS Fruit + Veggie Wash to 8 cups of water. If using warm water, soak for 5–10 minutes; for cold water, soak for 10–15 minutes. Swish the water around once or twice before straining 和 rinsing your produce.

Stay healthy, stay safe! 

因为 this virus is especially dangerous for those with preexisting health conditions, 和 because COVID-19 may be with us for months or years to come, it’s vital to keep eating a healthy, produce-rich diet 和 to cut back on those nutrient-depleted packaged 和 processed foods.

就像 美国疾病控制与预防中心说, two of the most important things we can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are to 洗手 和 clean 和 disinfect our homes. 经常. 十大彩票网赌平台 like our ECOS One-Step Disinfectant Cleaner help make cleaning 和 disinfecting a little simpler. You may want to consider washing your produce too 和 eating a diet that supports your long-term health 和 well-being. Like your first health expert (your mother) said, “Eat your greens!”

For more information on food safety, visit the CDC’s food safety site. ECOS is also always 在这里 to answer your questions; reach out to us 在这里 或在 Instagram, 脸谱网 or 推特.