Why Should You Wash Fruit and Vegetables?

Washing fresh produce before you eat it is one of those habits everyone has heard of, but few people think about closely. Here's what can be on your fruit and vegetables, what washing does and doesn't do, and how to wash fresh produce properly.

Why should you wash fruit and vegetables?

Washing can help remove surface dirt, dust and some residues picked up during growing, handling and transport. It's a simple step that reduces what ends up on your food before you eat it.

What can be on the surface of fresh produce?

Fruit and vegetables go through quite a journey before they reach your kitchen. They come into contact with soil, harvesting equipment, packing lines, transport, supermarket shelves and plenty of hands along the way.

Depending on the produce, the surface may have:

• Soil and dust from growing and transport
• Agricultural chemical residues where pesticides or fungicides have been used during production
• Natural wax, either the plant's own coating or a food-grade wax applied to some produce to help maintain quality
• Microorganisms, including bacteria transferred from soil, water, handling or other produce
• Residues from handling during the journey from farm to your kitchen

None of this means fresh produce is dangerous. In Australia, any agricultural chemical residues remaining on produce must be within the permitted maximum residue limits (MRLs) set out in the Food Standards Code.

These things are simply part of the journey fresh produce takes before it reaches us, and one of the reasons washing it before eating makes sense.

What does washing actually do?

Washing helps loosen and remove dirt, dust and other material from the surface of fresh produce. Giving firmer produce such as apples or capsicums a gentle rub while washing can also help loosen surface dirt and debris.

Washing is a cleaning step. It isn't the same as sanitising or sterilising, and it shouldn't be thought of as making fresh produce sterile.

What can't washing do?

Washing doesn't necessarily remove everything from the surface of fresh produce. How easily something is removed depends on the produce, its surface and what is actually on it.

It's better to think of washing as a practical cleaning step rather than something that guarantees the removal of every substance from the surface.

That doesn't make washing any less worthwhile. It's simply useful to understand what washing can and can't do.

Does washing remove pesticide residues?

Yes, washing can reduce some pesticide residues on the surface of fresh produce, but it won't necessarily remove them all. How much is removed depends on the produce, the pesticide involved and how the produce is washed. Some residues may be more difficult to remove, particularly where they are not simply sitting loosely on the surface.

This is one reason washing fresh fruit and vegetables before eating is worthwhile, even when they look clean.

In Australia, agricultural chemical residues in food are regulated through maximum residue limits (MRLs), which specify the maximum amount of a particular residue legally permitted in food.

Practical guidance for washing produce at home

1. 01Wash before eating or preparing. If you prefer to wash produce before storing it, make sure it is thoroughly dry before putting it in the fridge.
2. 02Give firmer produce a gentle rub. Apples, potatoes, capsicums and cucumbers can be rubbed during washing to help loosen surface dirt and debris.
3. 03Agitate leafy greens and herbs in water to help loosen dirt and debris from their textured surfaces.
4. 04Use a soft produce brush where appropriate, particularly for tougher skinned produce such as root vegetables and melons.
5. 05Rinse thoroughly with fresh running water after washing.
6. 06Dry thoroughly, particularly if you're storing produce afterwards. A clean towel or salad spinner works well.
7. 07Don't use household soap or detergent. These products aren't designed for washing food and may be unsafe for use with food.

Is plain water enough?

Australian food safety guidance recommends washing fresh fruit and vegetables under running water before eating. But water doesn't necessarily remove everything from the surface.

Many fruits and vegetables also have a naturally waxy outer surface. Water has a high surface tension, which is why you'll often see it bead on the surface of produce rather than spread evenly across it.

This is where Plantaera is different.

Plantaera isn't a water-based fruit and vegetable wash. It uses a concentrated, lipid-based formula made with food-grade, plant-derived lipids and designed with the naturally waxy surface of fruit and vegetables in mind.

When Plantaera is mixed with water, the formula helps water interact more effectively with the surface of the produce, helping to lift everyday dirt, oils and residues that water alone can miss.

Because there is no water in the bottle, Plantaera also doesn't need the preservatives commonly used to maintain water-based formulations over time.

Simply add one pump to a litre of water when you're ready to wash. Wash your produce, rinse thoroughly with fresh water and dry as usual.

It's a different approach to washing fresh produce, designed to work with water rather than replace it.