# Is rinsing fruit in water really enough to make it clean? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 23, 2004, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rinsing-fruit-in-water-really-enough-to-make-it-clean/261070 "2004-08-23T10:31:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rinsing-fruit-in-water-really-enough-to-make-it-clean/261070/1 "2004-08-23T10:31:06Z")
I’ve always been told that I should rinse fruit such as apples before eating it, to get rid of pesticides and germs. But I would never believe my hands were germ free after just rinsing them – I use an antibacterial soap. So my question is, can I really trust that just holding my fruit under the faucet for a few seconds is enough to make it safe to eat? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rinsing-fruit-in-water-really-enough-to-make-it-clean/261070/2 "2004-08-23T10:54:22Z")
No cite here, but I would say no; it won’t remove or kill germs - I agree with your handwashing reasoning - even a hand wash with soap isn’t necessarily effective, if it isn’t thorough - hands are different to fruits, obviously, but some of the same principles apply. I don’t think it will particularly effectively remove pesticides either; quite a few insecticides are oily or oil-soluble, either by chemical nature, or by design (to make them somewhat rainproof). Pesticides shouldn’t really be present at high levels in shop-bought fruit anyway, or something is very wrong. For fruit/vegetables that are to be cooked and/or eaten on their own, the main cause for concern on the ‘germs’ front would be soil-borne microorganisms, such as fecal bacteria (from manure) and parasites such as Toxicara - it might be possible to scrub most of these off something as resilient as a carrot, but forget it for raspberries (which, IMO, should never be washed or even refrigerated, if it can be helped), but carrots grow _in direct contact_ with soil. If you’re going to chop fruits and add them to a high-risk foodstuff, such as cream or mayonnaise, you’re going to be adding pathogens to it, but usually in small enough quantities to be harmless, as long as the food is properly stored thereafter and not left at room temperature so that they can multiply out of control. ---
**Author:** ![Cillasi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@Cillasi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cillasi)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rinsing-fruit-in-water-really-enough-to-make-it-clean/261070/3 "2004-08-23T11:15:21Z")
Washing fruit and veggies will get rid of surface dust and dirt, along with insects (i.e., grapes, lettuce). Most produce is thoroughly rinsed in the processing plants and the washing you do just removes grime that has accumulated since. ---
**Author:** ![Ponster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponster/32/17081_2.png) [@Ponster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponster)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rinsing-fruit-in-water-really-enough-to-make-it-clean/261070/4 "2004-08-23T11:24:49Z")
As what **Cillasi** said… In Ierland I never washed fruit from the market, mostly because I never saw other doing it. But when I arrived in France several people told that I should always wash fruit/veg even if it _looked_ clean. Personally I do it to remove dirt. If I picked an apple of a tree I’d give it a quick rub to shine it up and then start munching, and not go looking for a tap. ---
**Author:** ![gfloyd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d2c977/32.png) [@gfloyd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gfloyd)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rinsing-fruit-in-water-really-enough-to-make-it-clean/261070/5 "2004-08-23T13:32:10Z")
Studies, and no I can’t site them, have shown that regardless of what way the fruits and veggies are grown (organic vs. with chemical assisstance) and however they are treated once they enter the home, people who eat them are better off healthwise than those that don’t so I don’t worry terribly much. I do was off most things, or at least shine them. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rinsing-fruit-in-water-really-enough-to-make-it-clean/261070/6 "2004-08-23T16:07:33Z")
Here’s a study from [Colorado University:](http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/columncc/cc000630.html) > [@](#): > > By Ann Zander, Colorado State University > Cooperative Extension, Boulder County > June 30, 2000 > > Along with an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables, summertime always brings concern over their safety. Some Consumers are concerned about the potential for E. coli, salmonella or other bacteria poisoning. Others fear the effects of pesticide residues left on produce. > > What can you do to protect yourself and your family? The answer is simple: Give produce a thorough washing in cold, drinkable water. > > The American Institute for Cancer Research reports that eating lots of fruits and vegetables far outweighs any potential risks from low-level pesticide residues on the produce. Each year, the FDA tests about 20,000 shipments of domestic and imported foods for pesticide residues. But the FDA is not able to test every shipment, so educating the Consumer not only is important – it’s downright smart! > > Here is something to think about: An average of four strangers handled your apple before you chose it and up to 20 may have handled your tomato. > > The following steps, which you can take, will limit the amount of pesticide residues you eat. > > Buy fresh vegetables and fruits in season. When long storage and long-distance shipping are not required, fewer pesticides are used. > rim tops and the very outer portions of celery, lettuce, cabbages and other leafy vegetables that may contain the bulk of pesticide residues. > Peel and cook when appropriate, even though some nutrients and fiber are lost in the process. > Eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. This would limit exposure to any one type of pesticide residue. > Purchase only fruits and vegetables that are subject to USDA regulations. Produce imported from other countries is not grown under the same regulations as enforced by the USDA. Examples are strawberries and cantaloupes from Mexico. > Wait until just before preparation to wash or immerse your produce in clean drinking water. When appropriate, scrub with a brush. Experts at the University of California-Berkeley report that this removes nearly all Insects and dirt, as well as bacteria and some pesticide residues. Special soaps or washes are not needed and could be harmful to you depending on their ingredients. Read the label! > Consumers be aware: Fruit and vegetable washes are appearing in supermarket shelves. While these products are safe to use, nothing indicates that they are any more effective than using cold water and a vegetable brush – when a brush is appropriate. (You wouldn’t, for example, use a brush on tomatoes and strawberries.) So, you just might be spending more money than you need to. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rinsing-fruit-in-water-really-enough-to-make-it-clean/261070/7 "2004-08-23T18:13:16Z")
Any food is pretty disgusting if you examine it too closely, and hunger tends to win out over squeamishness. Fruits and vegetables are fertilized in fecal matter, after all, and meats are even grosser. Unless you want to live like Adrian Monk, I’d recommend fixating on something else, like Swift Boat Veterans Against Kerry or the latest Britney Spears outrage. A little denial can be a good thing. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rinsing-fruit-in-water-really-enough-to-make-it-clean/261070/8 "2004-08-23T18:18:43Z")
If you are truly concerned about bacteria and other micro-organisms, fill a sink with water and add a capfull of bleach. Immerse your produce, slosh around a few seconds and rinse. It won’t change the taste and will kill most critters. ---
**Author:** ![aktep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f0a364/32.png) [@aktep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aktep)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rinsing-fruit-in-water-really-enough-to-make-it-clean/261070/9 "2004-08-23T18:28:03Z")
Am I imagining, or wasn’t there a product for sale in the US about 4-5 years ago that you could spray on fruit and veggies, that was supposed to wash it better than water? ---
**Author:** ![aktep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f0a364/32.png) [@aktep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aktep)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rinsing-fruit-in-water-really-enough-to-make-it-clean/261070/10 "2004-08-23T18:29:42Z")
Ah, yes, FIT: [http://www.tryfit.com/](http://www.tryfit.com/) , which is apparently still for sale (if you can find it). ---
**Author:** ![nonpolar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3da27b/32.png) [@nonpolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nonpolar)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rinsing-fruit-in-water-really-enough-to-make-it-clean/261070/11 "2004-08-23T18:36:48Z")
Did you guys see nature documentaries about African hyienas , vultures or crocodiles ? I wish I had the same kind of stomach juices. ---
**Author:** ![KP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a9adbd/32.png) [@KP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KP)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rinsing-fruit-in-water-really-enough-to-make-it-clean/261070/12 "2004-08-23T20:56:09Z")
I can’t offer any biochemical mechanism (which kind of bugs me, given my background) but some years ago, I found that the following works extremely well on romaine lettuce. The locally grown stuff tends to have accumulate a fair amount of grit or dirt between the leaves. Water alone wasn’t doing it, anfd I really didn’t feel like hand-rubbing each leaf with a clean soft dish towel. Separate the leaves, stack them crossways in a large colander, then swish the collander in a large bowl with 4-6 qts cold water with 1-2 tbsp white vinegar. Lift the colander out, drain completely, shake out all excess water and then reimmerse – twice. A salad spinner with a removable collander and an extra bowl might be faster, but I have a larger stand alone collander which I prefer. It only takes a minute or two to clean a whole head of Romaine this way, and the amount of dirt that comes off in the first and second immersions is impressive (of course, I suppose that would depend on how much dirt was on there to begin with. The vinegar water treatment also crispd up the lettuce and make it last a lot longer in the refrigerator (I spin it dry, and then store it it in a large plastic bag wrapped in some dry paper towel. A couple oif years ago, a few members of my family were heavily into lettuce turkey roll-ups (similar to a regular turkey rollup, but with a lettuce leaf in place of the bread), and this technique came in extremely handy. The same process with plain cold and warm water control batches didn’t produce nearly as good results. I wash other groceries this way, too, but I only quantified it with romaine. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rinsing-fruit-in-water-really-enough-to-make-it-clean/261070/13 "2004-08-24T18:55:24Z")
Nobody’s mentioned the risk of Hepatitis A yet. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rinsing-fruit-in-water-really-enough-to-make-it-clean/261070/14 "2004-08-24T19:08:10Z")
> [@Shoshana](#): > > Nobody’s mentioned the risk of Hepatitis A yet. Which is why rinsing in a bleach solution is a good idea if living in the third world.