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Fruit and vegetable wash

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A vegetable wash is a cleaning product designed to aid in the removal process of dirt, wax and pesticides from fruit and vegetables before they are consumed.

Contents and use

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All fresh produce, even organic, can harbor residual pesticides, dirt or harmful microorganisms on the surface. Vegetable wash also removes germs, waxes on vegetable and fruits, and also the pesticides.[1] Vegetable washes may either be a number of specially-marketed commercial brands,[2] or they may be home recipes.[3] Commercial vegetable washes generally contain surfactants, along with chelating agents, antioxidants, and other agents.[3] Home recipes are generally dilutions of hydrogen peroxide or vinegar, the former of which may be dangerous at high concentrations.[2]

Effectiveness

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Neither the U.S. Food and Drug Administration nor the United States Department of Agriculture recommend washing fruits and vegetables in anything other than cold water.[3][4][5] To date there is little evidence that vegetable washes are effective at reducing the presence of harmful microorganisms, though their application in removing simple dirt and wax is not contested.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Is Your Kitchen Stocked With Sumabrite Veg & Fruit Wash? - Diversey". 18 November 2021. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
  2. ^ a b c Gerald M. Sapers; Ethan B. Solomon; Karl R. Matthews (28 May 2009). The Produce Contamination Problem: Causes and Solutions. Academic Press. pp. 405–406. ISBN 978-0-12-374186-8.
  3. ^ a b c Gerald M. Sapers; James R. Gorny; Ahmed Elmeleigy Yousef (29 August 2005). Microbiology Of Fruits And Vegetables. CRC Press. p. 393. ISBN 978-0-8493-2261-7.
  4. ^ Zander, A. "Washing Fruits and Vegetables." Colorado State University Cooperative Extension, Boulder County. June 30, 2000. http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09380.html
  5. ^ toptenreviewsite9 (2023-06-05). "Top 10 Vegetables in North Carolina". Top 10 Reviews. Retrieved 2023-07-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)