Comments on: Play it Again: The Great Debate- Washing our Fruits and Vegetables http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/09/the-great-debate-washing-our-fruits-and-vegetables.html Naturally inspired living for the Christian homemaker Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:34:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Laundry Ladyhttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/09/the-great-debate-washing-our-fruits-and-vegetables.html/comment-page-1#comment-52923 Laundry Lady Fri, 17 Dec 2010 16:11:11 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/09/the-great-debate-washing-our-fruits-and-vegetables.html#comment-52923 I can't always afford a lot of organic produce. But choosing between non-organic produce and none, I'll still pick non-organic. (I grow as many vegetables as possible at home during our shorter growing season in the north east, but I can't grow everything, and I can't even begin to tackle fruits). However, I'm always especially careful to scrub my daughter's food with a baking soda paste. I figure that if baking soda is safe to clean my house with and will help kill mold and mildew in my bathroom it must make at least a dent in pesticide residue. Fortunately her favorites include bananas and oranges which have a heavy outer skin I can dispose of. I can't always afford a lot of organic produce. But choosing between non-organic produce and none, I'll still pick non-organic. (I grow as many vegetables as possible at home during our shorter growing season in the north east, but I can't grow everything, and I can't even begin to tackle fruits). However, I'm always especially careful to scrub my daughter's food with a baking soda paste. I figure that if baking soda is safe to clean my house with and will help kill mold and mildew in my bathroom it must make at least a dent in pesticide residue. Fortunately her favorites include bananas and oranges which have a heavy outer skin I can dispose of.
Laundry Lady´s last [type] ..When I wish I could give cloth

]]> By: Katie @ Kitchen Stewardshiphttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/09/the-great-debate-washing-our-fruits-and-vegetables.html/comment-page-1#comment-18039 Katie @ Kitchen Stewardship Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:06:54 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/09/the-great-debate-washing-our-fruits-and-vegetables.html#comment-18039 I am just trying out Biokleen's produce wash for the first time, and I found that putting it in a reused foaming soap dispenser at 1/3 soap 2/3 water is a perfect way to make washing produce simpler. I can put a squirt on my hands and cover 3 or 4 items with the suds. Easy! Katie I am just trying out Biokleen's produce wash for the first time, and I found that putting it in a reused foaming soap dispenser at 1/3 soap 2/3 water is a perfect way to make washing produce simpler. I can put a squirt on my hands and cover 3 or 4 items with the suds. Easy!
Katie

]]> By: Lisahttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/09/the-great-debate-washing-our-fruits-and-vegetables.html/comment-page-1#comment-18038 Lisa Mon, 28 Sep 2009 02:54:28 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/09/the-great-debate-washing-our-fruits-and-vegetables.html#comment-18038 I use the Biokleen produce wash and a coir scrub brush. My MIL only rinses her non-organic produce, grosses me out. Seems like it has a lot to do with how you were raised. I use the Biokleen produce wash and a coir scrub brush. My MIL only rinses her non-organic produce, grosses me out. Seems like it has a lot to do with how you were raised.

]]> By: Jenhttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/09/the-great-debate-washing-our-fruits-and-vegetables.html/comment-page-1#comment-18037 Jen Thu, 24 Sep 2009 05:22:27 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/09/the-great-debate-washing-our-fruits-and-vegetables.html#comment-18037 I buy 99% organic fruits and veggies, but I still always wash them! The 1% non-organic is when I'm in a pinch and need something now, and the nearest store doesn't have organic. Either way, I fill my clean sink with water and add about a cup of vinegar, so not a 1:1 ratio... hmmm. I let the produce soak for about 15 minutes with periodic swishing, then I drain and rinse once in a sink of plain water. I rinse a second time under running water, as I remove it. Usually with non-organic, I will use a tiny amount of dish soap as well, in the initial soak. I buy 99% organic fruits and veggies, but I still always wash them! The 1% non-organic is when I'm in a pinch and need something now, and the nearest store doesn't have organic. Either way, I fill my clean sink with water and add about a cup of vinegar, so not a 1:1 ratio... hmmm. I let the produce soak for about 15 minutes with periodic swishing, then I drain and rinse once in a sink of plain water. I rinse a second time under running water, as I remove it.

Usually with non-organic, I will use a tiny amount of dish soap as well, in the initial soak.

]]> By: Karenhttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/09/the-great-debate-washing-our-fruits-and-vegetables.html/comment-page-1#comment-18036 Karen Thu, 24 Sep 2009 02:02:20 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/09/the-great-debate-washing-our-fruits-and-vegetables.html#comment-18036 Great article. I 'fess to doing a quick wash or not to organics, and have been known to eat a whole basket of cherry tomatoes on the way home from the market, unwashed. I tend to peel more if not organic, but wasn't aware of the concentration in the tops of the root veggies. Will have to handle that situation better. I'm not settled on the whole issue myself, but I also believe that when we are too fanatical about eliminating germs, we do damage to ourselves in the long run. ie antibacterial soaps, etc. But of course, big time YUCK to farmer workers with poor hygiene in the fields. Great article.
I 'fess to doing a quick wash or not to organics, and have been known to eat a whole basket of cherry tomatoes on the way home from the market, unwashed.

I tend to peel more if not organic, but wasn't aware of the concentration in the tops of the root veggies. Will have to handle that situation better.

I'm not settled on the whole issue myself, but I also believe that when we are too fanatical about eliminating germs, we do damage to ourselves in the long run. ie antibacterial soaps, etc. But of course, big time YUCK to farmer workers with poor hygiene in the fields.

]]> By: The Cottage Comtessehttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/09/the-great-debate-washing-our-fruits-and-vegetables.html/comment-page-1#comment-18035 The Cottage Comtesse Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:09:36 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/09/the-great-debate-washing-our-fruits-and-vegetables.html#comment-18035 I have been guilty of just rinsing organic produce with water ONLY and then eating it. (I do use a veggie wash on non-organic produce). However, the comments posted here have shed a new light on the subject - human waste in the fields. I'm fanatical about bathroom hygiene and it makes no sense to be so careful in one area and then brazen in another. I'll be thinking of this post long after today and I believe it will reform my ways!!! I have been guilty of just rinsing organic produce with water ONLY and then eating it. (I do use a veggie wash on non-organic produce). However, the comments posted here have shed a new light on the subject - human waste in the fields. I'm fanatical about bathroom hygiene and it makes no sense to be so careful in one area and then brazen in another. I'll be thinking of this post long after today and I believe it will reform my ways!!!

]]> By: Kika - central Albertahttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/09/the-great-debate-washing-our-fruits-and-vegetables.html/comment-page-1#comment-18034 Kika - central Alberta Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:45:00 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/09/the-great-debate-washing-our-fruits-and-vegetables.html#comment-18034 I tend to use just water or water/vinegar combination. I use natural dish detergent to gently scrub melons before cutting into them. I didn't know that root veggies contain higher levels of pesticides in the top inch so I'll keep that in mind. I tend to use just water or water/vinegar combination. I use natural dish detergent to gently scrub melons before cutting into them. I didn't know that root veggies contain higher levels of pesticides in the top inch so I'll keep that in mind.

]]> By: Stephanie @ Keeper of the Homehttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/09/the-great-debate-washing-our-fruits-and-vegetables.html/comment-page-1#comment-18033 Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:02:55 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/09/the-great-debate-washing-our-fruits-and-vegetables.html#comment-18033 Melonie K, I totally agree that organic produce still needs some kind of a wash, just as much as non-organic, more for the reason of bacteria from the fields, handling, etc. (Though I confess to having eaten my own small share of peas and cherry tomatoes straight from the garden or with only a quick rinse of the hose. :) Paula and Beatrice, I have no idea where the contaminations like E.coli bacteria come from exactly (though you could both be right, I'm sure). Good enough reasons to want to give everything some sort of a wash, though, right? Melonie K, I totally agree that organic produce still needs some kind of a wash, just as much as non-organic, more for the reason of bacteria from the fields, handling, etc. (Though I confess to having eaten my own small share of peas and cherry tomatoes straight from the garden or with only a quick rinse of the hose. :)

Paula and Beatrice, I have no idea where the contaminations like E.coli bacteria come from exactly (though you could both be right, I'm sure). Good enough reasons to want to give everything some sort of a wash, though, right?

]]> By: Beatricehttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/09/the-great-debate-washing-our-fruits-and-vegetables.html/comment-page-1#comment-18032 Beatrice Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:46:44 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/09/the-great-debate-washing-our-fruits-and-vegetables.html#comment-18032 I looked e. coli up on the internet and here's a document put out by the Canadian government entitled: E. coli O157:H7 Food Safety Facts Preventing foodborne illness <a href="http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/concen/cause/ecolie.shtml" rel="nofollow">http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/concen/cause/ecolie.shtml</a> This speaks to the earlier posts: "Raw fruits and vegetables can become contaminated with pathogens while in the field, by improperly composted manure, contaminated water, wildlife and poor hygienic practices of the farm workers." I looked e. coli up on the internet and here's a document put out by the Canadian government entitled:

E. coli O157:H7 Food Safety Facts
Preventing foodborne illness

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/concen/cause/ecolie.shtml

This speaks to the earlier posts:

"Raw fruits and vegetables can become contaminated with pathogens while in the field, by improperly composted manure, contaminated water, wildlife and poor hygienic practices of the farm workers."

]]> By: Beatricehttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/09/the-great-debate-washing-our-fruits-and-vegetables.html/comment-page-1#comment-18031 Beatrice Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:38:25 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/09/the-great-debate-washing-our-fruits-and-vegetables.html#comment-18031 Are you serious about migrant workers using the fields as toilets? I can't imagine that. I thought it was from farms that use improperly composted human waste as ferilizer (used in some 2nd and 3rd world countries). Are you serious about migrant workers using the fields as toilets? I can't imagine that.

I thought it was from farms that use improperly composted human waste as ferilizer (used in some 2nd and 3rd world countries).

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