How are is it to eat soft skin fruits?

[Ranguski]

How much washing is enough washing for them to be deemed safe?

OP have you read about the suggested link in risk between Vitamin D deficiency (particularly in BAME people) and CV symptoms? You are probably better off getting yourselves some Vit D supplements than worrying too much about fruits/veg.
Sorry don’t mean that to sound glib, just trying to be helpful.

Well, if you're really worried just leave them in the fridge for 48 hours, then wash and eat as normal. Evidence appears to be that the virus last longer on hard smooth surfaces than on soft ones. But realistically, if your soft fruit is in a sealed punnet, like raspberries from the supermarket, any virus will have probably died before you open them.

It is possible to overthink this. It is just a virus. It doesn't have superpowers and live for ever unless you bleach it.

dentedpixie boots are still out of stock..once back in stock will get some vit d

What kind of soapy water are people using?!
Not washing up liquid?

I just give them a quick wash under the tap as usual.

I bought my vitamin d from amazon. Got a spray one for the kids too

You eat food and there's no evidence that you can get infected (its a respiratory virus) that way so I would just rinse it and dry it (which I do normally anyway). And wash your hands after handling if you want to be super hygienic.

I wouldn't wash soft fruit in washing up liquid but I would wash hard fruit (eg oranges, apples) and rinse well. I know you don't eat orange skin but if all the fruit is in the fruitbowl together I'd rather clean it (and this is always, nothing to do with coronavirus). I always rinse apples etc before eating anyway.

@Ranguski : Your post at 10.52 has to be one of the saddest things I've read on here since this madness hit us.
If it was allowed, I'd come and hug you!
Google NHS Next of kin card.
This should direct you to a site where you can download and print off a credit card sized printout which you can fill in with your next of kin details.
You could write on it contact details for your family abroad who you want contacted in the event of your and your husband's demise.
Print off a few and you and DH carry with you at all times.....plus, leave one by your landline phone in the house, if you have one.

The benefit to your daughter from eating fruit, IMHO, outweighs the risks.
Take care.

I normally wash all fruits and veg but it’s the heightened sense of anxiety which makes me feel it’s not enough

Wingedharpy thank you for your kind words, they mean a lot.
I will print some cards and carry them with me..also leave them on the fridge door etc.

Agree with others. Just eat them.

You are going to be/probably have been already exposed to the virus anyway.

People who think they can live their lives by avoiding this horrible thing are nuts. It’s here to stay. Next winter is going to be much worse than now

Re next of kin cards. Most mobile phones have this built in now.

On an iOhone it’s on your “medical id” and can be accessed by anyone without unlocking the phone. The amount of info you make available sick as existing medical conditions etc is up to you.

It’s there for emergency services should you be involved in an accident or become ill.

It can also be set to notify your nominated emergency contacts with a message and GPS location if you call 999. My Apple Watch will do it automatically if I fall or if it detects a stopped heart

I wash fruit in a bowl of tepid water, with eco washing up liquid, and then rinse it very well. I do have Milton, so could use that. Vinegar is also a good idea.
I feel less anxious about things that can be cooked. With something like raspberries, I would probably either soak in Milton or vinegar, or more likely gently cook them, to have with yogurt. Grapes I wash .

@reboot

People who think they can live their lives by avoiding this horrible thing are nuts. It’s here to stay. Next winter is going to be much worse than now

Yes it's nuts to try to avoid getting this until they're better equipped to give you life saving treatment. Much better to not take precautions, get it now & die. 🙄🙄

Stop calling people who are trying
Not to die bonkers & nuts FFS

Just eat them OP

I'm sure washing would be fine but DH worries more.
He'll eat fruit with thick peel (bananas, citrus) but simply wouldn't enjoy raw soft fruit at the moment.
So we're making delicious fruit compotes, with a bit of lemon juice to sharpen the flavour and add back some vitamin C.

The chemicals in washing up liquid would worry me more tbh!

• Yes it's nuts to try to avoid getting this until they're better equipped to give you life saving treatment. Much better to not take precautions, get it now & die. 🙄🙄

Stop calling people who are trying
Not to die bonkers & nuts FFS*

We can’t just put our lives on hold forever. Unless you have a condition that makes you “high risk” you need to accept you will probably get it or have already had it.

I am “high risk” tested positive with very mild symptoms and am fine now although a bit tired. I accept I was lucky but chances are the others in my house got it as well and they never even showed any symptoms

I’ve never washed fruit in my life

I’ve never washed fruit in my life

I got less blasé about it after a visit to California when someone pointed out the portaloos in the strawberry field ... which apparently don't exist everywhere or aren't always used.

@fedupfrida

There’s no evidence that Covid can live on these items but other viruses such as ecoli and cryptosporidium have done forever.

I'm not a scientist or a doctor and I have no knowledge about the behaviour of viruses and whether they can infect through ingestion, but cryptosporidium is a parasite, and e coli is a bacterium. Neither is a virus.

This link is quite useful on food safety: www.foodstandards.gov.scot/consumers/food-safety/coronavirus

Everything @Rebootingagainsaid.

A hell of a lot of people are at far more risk of their health being adversely effected by the lengths they're going to and the terror they are creating for themselves than they are from COVID.

We can’t just put our lives on hold forever. Unless you have a condition that makes you “high risk” you need to accept you will probably get it or have already had it.

I must have missed the announcement that we're now anticipating a minimum of 200,000 deaths. Because that's what's going to happen if everyone "will probably get it".

The WHO say that washing your fruit and veg in water is sufficient.

The people abusing Milton for this purpose really annoy me. I've been struggling to find it to sterilise baby bottles with (it's actual intended purpose) because of this ridiculous notion.