Should you wash pre-washed and organic produce?
I already wrote about washing all fruits and vegetables before eating, even the ones you peel (here is the post). But what about and pre-washed and organic produce? Do we really need to wash them as well or are they safe enough for us to eat right away?
According to health professionals, all produce should be washed before eating: organic or not. When we are washing conventionally grown food, we are washing away some chemicals and pesticides. When we are washing both non-organic and organic produce, we are removing potential pathogens.
Critics of organic food keep reminding the world about the outbreak of Escherichia coli (E.Coli) in 2007. Apparently the outbreak was caused by spinach which was grown using organic methods. So even though buying organic is much better for your health, you still should not neglect the fact that everything needs to be washed.
Also, many people say that pre-packed greens have an odor which comes out if they wash them. I personally don’t have a problem with bagged greens odors, but my nose is not very sensitive.
Yesterday I picked up organic green salad in package with a label “pre-washed”. Out of curiosity I did a little research and found out that some health professionals recommend washing even pre-washed produce. One study found that some bags of pre-washed greens had actually more bacteria and were dirties than the ones which were not pre-washed. To wash you greens, use salad spinner. It is inexpensive and will make your life much easier.
If you don’t think I am credible enough for you to believe me, go to the official website of the king of food safety: American Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Here they warn everyone about washing produce and explain the reasons behind it and tell how to do it properly.
