Wash All Your Fruits, Even the Ones You Peel
You should wash all fruits and vegetables, even those you plan to clean before eating. In addition to dirt from the field, there may also be bacteria, pesticides or other chemical residues. Therefore, when packing your picnic basket, rinse the food.
This, by the way, does not mean that you need to be afraid of food. Small amounts of pesticide residues are not hazardous , and buying organic products does not circumvent the problem – organic food also uses pesticides .
But the safety protocols used in farms and grocery stores assume that you know you must wash your food before you eat it. Even if you plan on cleaning something, the knife can push bacteria or chemicals into the food, or you can get your hands on them.
Fortunately, the solution is simple: just rinse the food. There is no need for soap, bleach, or the like (in fact, food safety experts recommend not using anything extra ), but you can do your best by wiping things like melons with a soft brush.
Therefore, if you are going on a picnic, wash the food before heading out and place it in a clean bag or container. And if you find yourself in an area where you can’t wash your hands before eating, bring baby wipes and possibly hand sanitizer.