Avoid Illness By Cleaning In Season Produce - Family Caregiver Quick Tip

It is that time of year when we all start planting our gardens, visiting the farmer’s market and buying more in-season produce at the supermarket.

Warmer weather spurs us on to eating fresh foods that taste great but don’t require us to heat up the kitchen.

It doesn’t hurt to know those fresh foods are good for us, too.

Now is a good time to remember the importance of thoroughly cleaning all our produce, no matter what the source, to prevent foodborne illness.

Fruits and vegetables can carry bacteria that will make our seniors (and ourselves) sick.

Tips for Cleaning Produce to Avoid Illness

These quick and easy steps can do much to ensure produce from the farmer’s market, grocery store, or garden won’t cause foodborne illness.

Wash all produce before you eat it – peel of produce that is not yet washed can spread germs from the outer layers into the part you eat.
Cut away any bruised or damaged section.
Do not use detergent or bleach on any produce you intend to eat, running water is sufficient.
To fully clean some produce, use a brush to scrub firm produce such as cucumbers, potatoes, and melons
Use a clean paper towel to dry cleaned produce, not a potentially soiled dish towel.

For more information about safe food handling, you can learn more at Foodsafety.gov

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