Eating raw fruit and vegetables does the body good but comes with the risk of foodborne illness and outbreaks. When a recall happens, it puts consumers, retailers, produce growers, and regulatory authorities on alert about the safety of these products.
Fresh produce safety comes with unique challenges because of how it is grown, harvested, and processed. On top of that, there is no kill step for raw produce.
Investing in food safety and quality may mean incorporating an antimicrobial wash treatment for fruits and vegetables. Taking the time to wash produce properly also enhances shelf life and reduces shrinkage by destroying the bacteria that cause food to spoil.
What are the antimicrobial properties of a produce wash?
According to research, 600 million people worldwide suffer from foodborne illness every year. Of those cases, 7.5% were fatal.
So, while some produce washes are labeled antimicrobial, not every product will be effective against the most dangerous offenders linked to fresh produce outbreaks, such as Salmonella, Listeria, and E.coli.
Check the label to know which viruses, bacteria, and parasites it kills and the efficiency. For example, you're looking for a produce wash that is 99.999% effective and can reduce pathogens on the surface of fruit and vegetables.
Is fruit and vegetable wash EPA and FDA-approved?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approve which types of antimicrobial produce wash that can be used on fruit and vegetables and as a floral preservative.
Read the label to ensure the wash is EPA-registered to wash produce and protect floral preservative specifically. The supplier will also have an FDA notification letter stating it's an approved food contact substance.
Is the antimicrobial produce wash safe and easy to use?
Employee safety is as important as consumer safety. You need an antimicrobial treatment that doesn't require workers to wear protective equipment (PPE) and doesn't harm skin upon contact.
Produce wash should be easy to use to avoid misuse and lack of use. For instance, using an automatic sink dispenser reduces the risk of an employee using too much or too little produce wash.
Is produce wash approved to use on whole and cut fruits and vegetables?
Some produce washes have limits on how much you can use and for what fruit and vegetables. Antimicrobial wash for produce that can do it all saves time and money and simplifies operations.
The best produce washes are approved for all uses, including washing whole produce before cutting or peeling, crisping or rehydrating, and rinsing whole or cut produce to reduce bacterial load.
Fresh Solutions for Produce to Protect and Simplify Your Operations
All food safety solutions must be efficient, versatile, safe, easy to use, and reliable with every wash. Choosing the best antimicrobial fruit and vegetable wash helps ensure that you're taking the steps you need to take to enhance produce safety and reduce risk to your customers, workers, and business.
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