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Original poster

To not wash my fruit and veg

115 replies

Darkmorningsarethepits · 30/03/2025 21:08

I just don’t. Never have.
Am I going to die from pesticide exposure or some other hideous hidden danger.

Am I the only person who doesn’t?

OP posts:
Comedycook · 30/03/2025 21:39

applegrumbling · 30/03/2025 21:37

If you’re just washing your hands in water then you’re doing it wrong

If you’re washing your fruit and veg in soap then you’re doing it wrong

HTH

Show quote history

Well obviously

But rinsing and scrubbing fruit and veg in water is going to remove more bacteria, pesticides and dirt than not doing it...so why wouldn't you?

AquaPeer · 30/03/2025 21:39

Comedycook · 30/03/2025 21:36

Well I just googled should you wash fruit and veg and there is absolutely loads of information about it and the overwhelming answer seems to be yes...it won't remove everything but it's better than nothing.

Don’t you think there would be public service information about it if it was dangerous not to wash f&v? Like do you think the government and NHs would just let us all poison ourselves 😂

applegrumbling · 30/03/2025 21:37

Comedycook · 30/03/2025 21:31

If washing makes no difference, why do we even bother washing our hands?

If you’re just washing your hands in water then you’re doing it wrong

If you’re washing your fruit and veg in soap then you’re doing it wrong

HTH

Comedycook · 30/03/2025 21:36

Well I just googled should you wash fruit and veg and there is absolutely loads of information about it and the overwhelming answer seems to be yes...it won't remove everything but it's better than nothing.

applegrumbling · 30/03/2025 21:36

I never do and I’m fine.

Very bemused by the number of people on this thread who think a bit of cold or warm water is going to wash off any of that stuff. I just don’t worry about it.

AquaPeer · 30/03/2025 21:34

Comedycook · 30/03/2025 21:31

If washing makes no difference, why do we even bother washing our hands?

Can you really not see the difference between those things?!?

finallysomesunshine · 30/03/2025 21:33

Hands are washed w hot water and soap - and rubbed a lot! Not many people do that to their fruit and veg…

Comedycook · 30/03/2025 21:31

If washing makes no difference, why do we even bother washing our hands?

AquaPeer · 30/03/2025 21:29

Comedycook · 30/03/2025 21:27

Washing actual soil off fruit and veg does make a difference. Like I said, there is a type of food poisoning you can get from soil

Show quote history

It doesn’t though because the soil was stuck to the veg, so any bacteria is on the surface of the veg as well as in the soil.

Comedycook · 30/03/2025 21:28

What about just general dust. If you have a fruit bowl sitting out, it will attract dust in the same way any surface does.

Comedycook · 30/03/2025 21:27

AquaPeer · 30/03/2025 21:23

How do you know your food poisoning came from the spinach? There is no way to be certain if it wasn’t tested, and as a poster said cold water couldn’t have made the difference

Show quote history

Washing actual soil off fruit and veg does make a difference. Like I said, there is a type of food poisoning you can get from soil

Hyperion100 · 30/03/2025 21:27

2 words....human poo

www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/58654125.amp

NeverDropYourMooncup · 30/03/2025 21:25

Any pesticides are going to be in the plant fibres so no amount of water is going to get them out. Most veg is going to be either peeled and boiled/roasted or boiled and roasted. The majority of salad stuff has never even seen soil or fresh air as it's grown hydroponically.

It'll get a rinse to remove grit if it's actually been grown in the ground or if there's a chance there could be bugs in it because it's come out of the garden, it gets left for ten minutes in water to see if anybody floats to the surface, but I'm not going to get het up about it.

AquaPeer · 30/03/2025 21:23

Comedycook · 30/03/2025 21:19

It was supposed to be pre washed but I could actually taste mud and grit...I think there is a particular type of food poisoning that you get from soil, will have to google though....so yes washing the soil off is important.

Show quote history

How do you know your food poisoning came from the spinach? There is no way to be certain if it wasn’t tested, and as a poster said cold water couldn’t have made the difference

Harry9 · 30/03/2025 21:23

I do yeah but didn’t in my early twenties. But too many slugs and caterpillars have ruined salads etc over the years! When you wash leaves in a colander, it’s surprising how often you’ll find a slug at the bottom of it at the end. 🤢

Also, whenever I go into Aldi and Lidl, the loose veg is really low, almost on the floor level, and I think of the mice probably running around there at night. There are traps outside which always make me think about this.

Glitchymn1 · 30/03/2025 21:22

I wash it, because humans have handled it and after scrolling the “things you do when nobody is watching thread” why on earth would you not 🤣

AquaPeer · 30/03/2025 21:21

weshallovercomeaswevedonebefore · 30/03/2025 21:19

Can someone who does wash theirs please tell us how rinsing under a cold tap actually kills germs?! As unless you’re using hot water, soap and scrubbing for 30 seconds or so, it’s going to do precisely nothing. So why do it?

Not even hot water, as the water it would need to be at least 60c to kill virus’, harmful bacteria. The only way is to cook it.

and obviously we all eat some
fruit and veg raw so that’s not realistic

weshallovercomeaswevedonebefore · 30/03/2025 21:19

Can someone who does wash theirs please tell us how rinsing under a cold tap actually kills germs?! As unless you’re using hot water, soap and scrubbing for 30 seconds or so, it’s going to do precisely nothing. So why do it?

Comedycook · 30/03/2025 21:19

nowaynohowz · 30/03/2025 21:16

I don’t think washing it gets rid of the bacteria anyway, you have to cook it ☹️

Show quote history

It was supposed to be pre washed but I could actually taste mud and grit...I think there is a particular type of food poisoning that you get from soil, will have to google though....so yes washing the soil off is important.

AquaPeer · 30/03/2025 21:19

countrysidedeficit · 30/03/2025 21:18

Have you not heard of E. coli?

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-36822962

“People in the UK have been advised to thoroughly wash mixed salad leaves amid concern that this food could be the source of a recent E. coli outbreak.”

the ecoli outbreak in question was 10 years ago. I think we’re over it now 🤣

MidnightPatrol · 30/03/2025 21:17

I only rinse items that I think someone else might have touched in the supermarket.

Snackpocket · 30/03/2025 21:17

No me either unless there is visible soil to wash off!

catsand · 30/03/2025 21:16

I never wash it, as I don’t see how a swish under the cold tap would make the slightest bit of difference.

Idontknowhatnametochoose · 30/03/2025 21:16

Always wash. And I'm not someone obsessed with germs, just don't fancy food poisoning.