Before you bite...The Dirty Dozen???

Before you bite...
The Dirty Dozen 2011
1. Apples
2.Celery
3.Strawberries
4.Peaches
5.Spinach
6.Nectarines
7.Grapes(imported)
8.Sweet bell peppers
9.Potatoes
10.Lettuce
11.Kale/Collard greens

So what does this list mean? Does it mean we should never eat these foods again? NO! Absolutely not! What it means is these foods are higher in pesticide residues. So if you were going to invest in Organic produce  these would be the ones to buy! If not wash them very well, before feeding them to your family!

*Tip on cleaning Fresh produce:

Instructions

1. • 1
     First of all, produce should be washed by holding it under moving tap water and rubbing it vigorously with your hands. Although many people try to clean produce by allowing it to soak in a vat of water, this isn't effective for removing dirt and bacteria and won't give you the clean produce you'll want to serve to your family. Never add any type of detergent, cleaning product, or dish washing detergent to the water you're using to wash your produce. Why? You run the serious risk of the detergent being absorbed into the fruit or vegetable itself.
   • 2
     Should you use a special vegetable wash to wash produce before eating it? Contrary to popular belief these products provide very little additional benefit. If you want to use something other than water, try washing your vegetables and fruits in a dilute solution of white vinegar and water.
   • 3
     Here are some special guidelines to follow when washing various types of produce.
   • 4
     Produce with outer rinds.

     This includes vegetables such as cucumber, potatoes, and squash as well as the melon fruits such as honeydew. Because the outer rinds on these fruits and vegetables have grooves, it's impossible to reach all the debris and bacteria through hand rubbing alone. It's best to use a brush to thoroughly scrub the crevices before cutting the melon. Remember when you cut the fruit or vegetable, you transfer some of the outside debris and bacteria into the inside meaty portion of the produce.
   • 5
     Leafy vegetables.

     Leafy vegetables such as lettuce and cabbage should have the outer layers of leaves removed before washing in water. This will remove the leaves with the potential for carrying the greatest dirt and debris. A recent study showed that the best way to remove bacteria from leafy vegetables is to rinse each leaf piece by piece. Although this won't reduce the risk of food borne illness by 100%, it can make a significant difference.
   • 6
     Produce with wax coverings.

     Dirt, bacteria, and debris can stick to the sticky wax surface on a fruit or vegetable that has a wax coating. For this reason, the produce should be thoroughly scrubbed with a brush to remove any out layer of dirt or organisms.
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