Fruit and vegetable wash

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A vegetable wash is a cleaning product designed to aid in the removal process of dirt, wax and pesticides from fruit and vegetables before they are consumed.

Contents

Contents and use

All fresh produce, even organic, can harbor residual pesticides, dirt or harmful microorganisms on the surface. Vegetable wash also removes germs, waxes on vegetable and fruits, and also the pesticides. [1] Vegetable washes may either be a number of specially-marketed commercial brands, [2] or they may be home recipes. [3] Commercial vegetable washes generally contain surfactants, along with chelating agents, antioxidants, and other agents. [3] Home recipes are generally dilutions of hydrogen peroxide or vinegar, the former of which may be dangerous at high concentrations. [2]

Effectiveness

Neither the U.S. Food and Drug Administration nor the United States Department of Agriculture recommend washing fruits and vegetables in anything other than cold water. [3] [4] [5] To date there is little evidence that vegetable washes are effective at reducing the presence of harmful microorganisms, though their application in removing simple dirt and wax is not contested. [2]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fruit</span> Seed-bearing part of a flowering plant

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zucchini</span> Edible summer squash

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blanching (cooking)</span> Brief scalding of food in boiling water

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The Celebrity tomato cultivar is a hybrid (biology) that produces long fruit-bearing stems holding 20 or more very plump, robust tomatoes. Fruits weigh approximately 8 oz., and are 4 inches across. Plants need caging or staking, and produce fruit throughout the growing season. The celebrity tomato is a cultivar of the species Solanum lycopersicum. It is a crossbreed of the common tomato that is widely used for various culinary purposes. This tomato is of great size and is known to be resistant to most tomato diseases such as Fusarium wilt, Verticillium wilt, Tobacco mosaic virus and Root-knot nematode due to its hybrid nature. Celebrity tomatoes are highly adaptive to harsh environments and can grow in a wide range of places including dry, humid and wet regions. They are resistant to cracking and splitting which usually occurs when there is an excess of water and sugar movement in the fruits. Therefore, causing the tomato skin to grow at a slower rate compared to the expansion of the fruit. They can survive in harsh uneven rainfall. However, they are highly susceptible to colder environments and are at a higher risk of dying in regions with short growing seasons. The plants can grow up to 5 feet in height with bright red medium-sized fruits. The plants are generally very thick and grow in clusters. The tomato fruits are mostly used in the making of various salsas, salads, juices and canned food.

Korean natural farming (KNF) is an organic agricultural method that takes advantage of indigenous microorganisms (IMO) to produce rich soil that yields high output without the use of herbicides or pesticides.

References

  1. "Is Your Kitchen Stocked With Sumabrite Veg & Fruit Wash? - Diversey" . Retrieved 2022-02-18.
  2. 1 2 3 Gerald M. Sapers; Ethan B. Solomon; Karl R. Matthews (28 May 2009). The Produce Contamination Problem: Causes and Solutions . Academic Press. pp.  405–406. ISBN   978-0-12-374186-8.
  3. 1 2 3 Gerald M. Sapers; James R. Gorny; Ahmed Elmeleigy Yousef (29 August 2005). Microbiology Of Fruits And Vegetables. CRC Press. p. 393. ISBN   978-0-8493-2261-7.
  4. Zander, A. "Washing Fruits and Vegetables." Colorado State University Cooperative Extension, Boulder County. June 30, 2000. http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09380.html
  5. toptenreviewsite9 (2023-06-05). "Top 10 Vegetables in North Carolina". Top 10 Reviews. Retrieved 2023-07-09.