Yes and yes. I have to admit, that I started washing produce before eating awhile ago, but it never occurred to me that I have to wash produce that is peeled as well. If you think washing a banana or a tangerine is crazy, think about how many hands touched it before you and how many chemicals were sprayed on it (if you are buying non-organic). You may pick up the bacteria and put them directly to your mouth along with your fruit.

I didn’t make this up. Even FDA experts say that you need to wash ALL produce before eating. They say that this includes both organically and conventionally grown produce. Using soap or detergent is not recommended. Just wash it thoroughly with warm water and dry with a paper towel or clean dry cloth. Drying produce may further reduce bacteria.

FDA experts recommend scrubbing firm products such as cucumbers and melons with a produce scrub or a brush.

It is important to wash all produce, especially non-organic, before consuming, because some pesticides and chemical residues which are used to spray fruits and vegetables are water soluble and do come off with water.

Nutritionists say that you should wash produce for at least 30 seconds with warm water.

It is always better to buy organic produce, which is grown without the use of chemicals and pesticides, but if you can’t afford it, buy conventional fruits and vegetables which were produced in the U.S. Imported produce usually have higher pesticide levels.

Washing fruits and vegetables before eating has been recommended by health experts for many decades, but for some reason many Americans fail to do this. Remember, it takes less than a minute to wash a fruit. Make it your habit.

Sources: FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.