I’ve always washed my produce – organic or conventional – with Environne’s Fruit and Vegetable Wash. Compared to just using tap water to wash, fruit washes seem to make them cleaner…to me, anyway.
But today’s NY Times’s article tell me otherwise. Really???
According to the article, scientists at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in 2000, “tap water “significantly reduced” residues of 9 of 12 pesticides, and it worked as well as soap and wash products, the studies found.” And in 2003, University of Florida’s study on E. Coli on fresh strawberries determined that 10% vinegar solution eliminated bacteria by 90 percent and viruses by 95%.
No kidding!!
Apparently, it’s really the rubbing action that causes pesticide elimination and not the water or the detergent. And when you add 10% vinegar to the action, it kills most of the bacteria and viruses…..according to the article.
Now this DOES NOT mean, I won’t be buying organic fruits and vegetables. I still want to eat sustainably and want my fruits and vegetables to be chemical free and not genetically engineered. But now I know a cheaper and just as effective way to wash them.
10% vinegar solution!
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by herbanlifestyle, Kathy. Kathy said: Should you clean your produce with fruit wash detergents? http://t.co/hVP6r76 NOOOOO…10% vinegar solution! [...]