A recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said 19% of Americans are washing their fruits and vegetables with a bleach solution.
Although the CDC said people have done other high-risk things with household cleaners during the COVID-19 crisis — such as gargling with bleach or using it to clean their skin, using bleach to sanitize produce was the most common — and the most potentially dangerous.
Bleach is not meant to be used to clean any foods or food products. The ingestion of any amount of bleach can be a major health hazard.
Here are ways you can safely clean produce:
- Use clean water to rinse fresh fruits and vegetables. You may also use a scrub brush for cleaning firm-fleshed produce.
- Wipe down packaging. If your produce comes in wrapped plastic, you can take a disinfectant wipe to clean the surface. Never spray bleach on the packaging, as it can permeate the wrapping.
- Wash your hands before cleaning or handling any groceries and again afterward.
- If you are super anxious, you can use soap and water to wash fruits and vegetables but make sure you rinse them with water to remove all traces of soap.