Wellness

[Newgate]

Should we be afraid of fresh produce carrying this virus?  I always wash my produce but will that alone kill this virus?

[on the bay]

@Newgate -

Jeez I hadn't though of that but also haven't been to the store in a while

and the last time I bought anything fresh was before we all were really thinking about it.

Now, I think of everything that could  have the virus so that is a good question!

[Mominohio]

this has been a question I've been asking myself for weeks. It has me staying out of the stores right now, and I'm almost all out of fresh produce. I'm struggling with whether or not to go get more. Leaning toward not.

[lovinglife]

From unitedfresh.org

KEEPING FOOD SAFE

There is no evidence that fresh produce (or any other food, or other product/material) can transmit the coronavirus/COVID-19. The FDA directly addresses food safety concerns at the bottom of their FAQ page here where they answer your questions about the people who are in contact with the food you are consuming before it comes into your possession.

United Fresh Produce Association, in conjunction with our industry partners at the Produce Marketing Association and FMI, the food industry association, have jointly stated:

“There are no clinically confirmed cases of COVID-19 linked to the consumption of fresh produce or food sold through traditional retail outlets. As consumers select their produce, adhering to food safety guidance is critical. We encourage consumers to wash their hands, and wash and prepare their produce following FDA recommendations.” 

Personal hygiene and sanitation practices have long been a critical part of food production. As a member of the Partnership for Food Safety Education, we’re sharing this guidance for keeping yourself, your surfaces and your food safe.

[jellyBEAN]

If you're not buying organic produce, no worries.  Our fruits and vegetables are already contaminated w/pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, antimicrobials, etc....

Like I said, no worries. 

[SilleeMee]

You can fill your sink with water and add bleach. Add 1/2 cup of bleach to every gallon of water. Place your produce into the bleach solution for 10 minutes and that will disinfect it. Rinse well. 

I did this for a friend who was severely immuno-compromised. My friend could not eat food which had any germs on it. I had to disinfect other items in the house, too using the same diluted bleach.

If you just want to sanitize the produce do this:

How To Make A Chlorine Bleach & Water Solution To Sanitize Raw Fruits And Vegetables

1. 2 teaspoons Regular Bleach
2. 1 Gallon of clean water.  Let fruit or vegetables stand in solution for at least one minute

[FlowerBear]

wondering myself this too. i have been getting frozen vegetables and fruit and hope they will not be sold out!

[FlowerBear]

@SilleeMee   i have never used bleach this way and would be afraid to

[SilleeMee]

@FlowerBear 

Most, if not all, produce goes through a sanitizing process before it gets put on the shelves at the stores. That sanitizing usually involves a bleach solution. Without that we would be in trouble. However, sanitization does not mean 'sterile' and produce can still harbour germs.

You should even be rinsing off your frozen fruits and veggies before eating them, especially if you are not going to cook them.

[wagirl]

I scrub ALL my hard rind veggies/fruit with dishsoap under hot water for years--all melons, apples, citrus, beets, carrots, spuds----and many more that are tough skinned----hadn't really thought about the bleach soak for the others but I will start doing that now---just gotta rinse very well--should be fine and safer----