Food Poisoning Law Blog

Fresh produce has been the source of many of the foodborne outbreaks this year. The following tips for fresh produce safety from the FDA should help make your holiday a safe one.  

Tips for Fresh Produce

For many families, salads, vegetable dishes and fruit are an important part of holiday meals and entertaining.

• Purchase produce that is not bruised or damaged.
• When selecting fresh cut produce—such as a half a watermelon or bagged mixed salad greens—choose only those items that are refrigerated or surrounded by ice.
• Bag fresh fruits and vegetables separately from meat, poultry and seafood when packing them to take home from the market.
• Certain perishable fresh fruits and vegetables (like strawberries, lettuce, herbs, and mushrooms) can be best maintained by storing in a clean refrigerator at a temperature of 40° F or below. If you aren’t sure whether an item should be refrigerated to maintain quality, ask your grocer.
• All produce that is purchased pre-cut or peeled should be refrigerated within two hours to maintain both quality and safety.
• Begin preparing produce with clean hands. Wash hands for 20 seconds with warm water and soap before and after preparing fresh produce.
• Many precut, bagged produce items like lettuce are pre-washed. If so, it will be stated on the packaging. This pre-washed, bagged produce can be used without further washing. As an extra measure of caution, you can wash the produce again just before you use it. Precut or pre-washed produce in open bags should be washed before using.
• Cut away any damaged or bruised areas on fresh fruits and vegetables before preparing and/or eating. Produce that looks rotten should be discarded.
• All unpackaged fruits and vegetables, as well as those packaged and not marked pre-washed, should be thoroughly washed before eating. This includes produce grown conventionally or organically at home, or produce from a grocery store or farmer's market. Wash fruits and vegetables under running water just before eating, cutting or cooking.
• Even if the produce will be peeled before eating, it is still important to wash it first.
• Washing fruits and vegetables with soap or detergent or using commercial produce washes is not recommended.
• Scrub firm produce, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean produce brush under running water.
• Drying produce with a clean cloth towel or paper towel may further reduce bacteria that may be present.
  

Separate for Safety

Keep fruits and vegetables that will be eaten raw separate from other foods such as raw meat, poultry or seafood - and from kitchen utensils used for those products.

In addition, be sure to wash cutting boards, dishes, utensils and counter tops with hot water and soap between the preparation of raw meat, poultry and seafood products and the preparation of produce that will not be cooked.