With the boom of eating real food and as natural as possible, doubts arise that we did not have before. Can you properly wash vegetables? Do you think that putting them under the tap is enough? Despite the fact that the regulations are quite strict on food safety, the Consumer, Food Safety and Nutrition Agency (AECOSAN) comments that in the environment there may be pathogenic microorganisms and chemical elements that sometimes contaminate fruits and vegetables .
Avoid gastric pain with washing
Eating raw foods that we have not washed properly can cause us to suffer from stomachaches, bloating, allergic skin reactions or diseases such as listeriosis . We tend to ignore these types of symptoms and are only given importance when they occur in a massive way (to a group of people) or when the consequences are more serious than usual.
It should not be a question of scruples, but of security . Running the lettuce under the tap and cutting it is not enough, we must submerge all the leaves that we are going to eat to make sure that we are eliminating any remaining pesticide or bacteria.
Cleaning fruits and vegetables does not mean that properties or nutrients are lost. This loss can only be due to poor conservation, but not to eliminating the supposed chemicals or microorganisms.
You wash your hands?
It may be obvious, but have you ever made the mistake of cleaning vegetables without first washing your hands? It is important that when handling any food, even for your own consumption, you have very clean hands. Soap and water for 20 seconds and you’re done.
After washing our hands, it is important that we also keep the workplace clean of food and kitchen utensils. We repeat: we know that it is obvious, but sometimes the simplest thing is what we least notice. Did you know that before you peel any food it is better to clean the peeler or knife?
Is washing them with water enough? Although tap water does not sterilize food and does not completely eliminate microorganisms, it is not a bad option to reduce the presence of pesticides. What is prohibited is that soap or detergent comes into direct contact with the food in question. Washing them with water and scrubbing them with a soft brush or cloth will be the best way to clean. It is even more advisable to dry it with kitchen paper to avoid contamination.
