Fruits and vegetables are an important part of our diet. They provide essential nutrients needed for good health. Therefore, fresh produce must be handled with care during washing, preparing, and storing to prevent contamination and reduce the risk of foodborne illness.

Washing:

• Rinse with cool running water before consumption, but not before storage as moisture causes the product to deteriorate more quickly.
• Produce with an eatable peel or even peels that will be removed should be rinsed with cool running water and thoroughly dried with a clean paper towel.

Preparing:

• Use clean cutting boards and knives and keep separated from other foods such as raw meat, poultry, fish, and eggs to prevent cross contamination.

Storing:

• Some produce can be stored at room temperature while others need to be refrigerated. For produce storage conditions and temperatures visit the following sources:

FDA.gov

FDA Produce Safety Activities

Fruit and Veggies More Matters

Food Safety Keeping Produce Fresh

For more information about produce safety, visit the following Web sites:

Center for Produce Safety

Tips for Fresh Produce Safety

Produce Safety: Safe Handling

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