Call Us 866-924-2442
logo new
 
  • About Us
    • Our Culture
    • Our Caregivers
    • Our Management Team
    • Industry Statistics
  • Careers
  • Services
    • Coordination of Care
    • Elderly Care Services
    • Hiring an Agency vs.
      Direct Caregiver
    • Benefits Outweigh Cost
    • Personal Care
    • Skilled Nursing Therapy
    • Senior In Home Care
    • Alzheimer’s and Dementia
  • Programs
    • ENSUREPrograms
      • ENSUREConnect
      • ENSURECheck
    • Temperature Screening Services
      • Event Screening
    • Veterans Aid & Attendance
  • Blogs
    • Lifestyle
    • Franchising
    • Newsroom
  • Hand in Hand Newsletter
  • Franchise Opportunities
  • Ask a Question

Blog

Home Healthy Aging Prepping Your Produce for Safe Eating

Prepping Your Produce for Safe Eating

September 27, 2014Admin

Splashing vegetables

This is the time of year when lovely fresh produce is in abundance. But be sure to take precautions before you dig into that delicious salad or slice of cantaloupe!

When we think of foodborne illness, we usually think of meat or dairy products as being the culprit. But fruits and vegetables can also present a risk, especially for seniors, who are more vulnerable to E. coli and other harmful microorganisms. The American Institute for Cancer Research offers tips for preparing all those wonderful summer vegetables we find in abundance this time of year.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) nutrition experts, advises rinsing all fresh fruits and vegetables before eating them. This recommendation also applies to produce with rinds or skins that are not eaten.

Rubbing fruits and vegetables by hand under running water usually does the trick. Or you can use a scrub brush for produce that has rough or grooved skins. Soaking is not advised, because the water is stagnant; make sure you rinse under running water. Pay attention to crevices that grit can hide in, such as between the florets of broccoli and cauliflower, or the grit hidden in the wrinkles of mature spinach leaves. Remove the outer leaves of lettuce and cabbage. (The AICR advises that it is not a good idea to use antibacterial soap or detergent to wash your produce, because it isn’t known how safe any residue might be that is left on it.)

Leafy greens need a little extra attention because they grow close to the ground. Separate the leaves, then rinse and rub each leaf until no visible dirt is left. Dry with paper towels or place them in an inexpensive plastic spinner, which works much faster.

Produce that has rough or indented skins, like cantaloupes, needs to be scrubbed with a small brush to effectively remove all the dirt and bacteria. This prevents bacteria on the surface of the fruit from being transferred to the inside of the fruit by your knife.

Scrubbing is best for wax-coated items, too, such as cucumbers, apples, peppers and tomatoes. Wax is only applied to some kinds of produce that is supplied by large companies. It is a plant-based substance that seals in moisture and protects the produce from contamination. Although the wax itself is not hazardous to your health, it does allow dirt to stick to the produce, so washing waxed items is still advisable.

What about packaged produce labeled “ready to eat,” “pre-washed” or “triple washed”? You don’t have to wash these varieties again at home, because bagged precut vegetables are washed multiple times in chlorinated water to kill pathogens. Just make sure they are refrigerated until ready to eat and aren’t consumed after the “use-by” date. Any bacteria they may pick up would probably come from handling in your kitchen.

Do you need to buy a cleaning spray? Many grocery stores now sell bottled washes that are touted to be environmentally safe, able to impede the growth of bacteria and wash away chemicals, soil and wax. Studies have not shown that using these products makes food any safer. If it makes you feel better, there is likely nothing wrong with using such a product, but be sure to follow the directions on the product’s label.

It only takes a couple of minutes to wash your produce and safeguard your loved ones from foodborne illnesses. Try to buy your produce locally and eat plenty of vegetables and fruits every day for good health and lower cancer risk.

Source: The American Institute for Cancer Research. The AICR focuses on the link between diet and cancer. Visit their website (www.aicr.org) for a wealth of information and recipes for healthy eating.

Learn More

The CDC, Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture and several other U.S. government agencies sponsor FoodSafety.gov, the clearinghouse for consumer food safety information.

  • Source: Assisting Hands® in association with IlluminAge, © IlluminAge 2014.
Tags: Assisting Hands Home Care, foodbourne illness, washing kitchen utensils, washing produce
Previous post Foodbourne Illness in Produce Can Be Spread by Utensils Next post Marketers May Use “Graywashing” to Attract Senior Consumers

Newsletters

Facebook
Twitter

Categories

  • Alzheimer's Disease
  • Brain Health
  • Business Awards
  • Caregiving Tips
  • COVID-19
  • Elder Care
  • Healthy Aging
  • Homecare
  • In Home Care
  • Legal & Financial
  • Long Term Care
  • News
  • Planning Ahead
  • Respite Care
  • Safety
  • Senior Care
  • Summer
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Volunteering

Recent Posts

  • The Importance of Senior Vitamins and Minerals
  • Another Bowl, Please–Three Yummy Immune-Boosting Soup Recipes
  • Glaucoma—Signs and Care
  • 5 Simple Ways to Improve the Quality of Life for Your Loved One
  • Social Distancing Can Worsen Holiday Blues–Here Is How You Can Help

Archives

  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • January 2020
  • October 2019
  • May 2018
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • September 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • November 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • May 2012
chat-icon

Read Our Newsletter

Read More
apache_pb

Download Our Brochure

Download
logo

assisting hands

Assisting Hands Home Care provides elder care services and senior in home care services for families across the country.

  • 866-924-2442
  • support@assistinghands.com
  • 5700 East Franklin Rd Nampa ID 83687

Follow Us

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
YouTube
Pinterest

Company

  • In Home Health Care, Elder Care & Senior Caregivers
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Services
  • Company News
  • Newsletter
  • Franchise Opportunities
  • Location List

Services

  • Hiring an Agency vs.
    Direct Caregiver
  • Senior In Home Care
  • Elderly Care Services
  • Coordination of Care
  • Personal Care
  • Skilled Nursing Therapy
  • Benefits Outweigh Cost

Legal

  • Site Terms
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Crunchbase

2020 Assisting Hands Home Care. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | Powered by Path