Preparing Fresh Fruits and Vegetables for Safe Consumption
Listen to the article The average American consumes 300 pounds
of fresh produce per year, and health educators are encouraging
more. Children, elderly and those with weakened immune systems
may be especially vulnerable to the bacteria that sometimes
contaminate fresh produce. You can take precautions to protect
your family from food borne illnesses associated with eating
contaminated uncooked food. - Store fruits and vegetables in the
refrigerator. Bacteria that is present on fruits and vegetables
is likely to thrive at room temperatures. - As consumers we
should realize that the kitchen sink is our last line of defense
in making sure fruits and vegetables are clean and safe to eat.
Scrub and rinse each piece of product carefully, especially if
you intend to eat it raw. Although this will not kill bacteria,
it will reduce the numbers. Do not wash foods in soapy water
because the soap can leave residues of its own. - Rinse lettuce
leaves individually u