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Citrus Magic Veggie Wash
Is your produce clean enough to eat?
So you've made a
commitment to eat more fruits and vegetables. That's
certainly a step toward good health and more energy.
You know how to pick the ripest tomato and the
perfect pepper. But do you know the best way to wash
the produce you chose so carefully?
Chances are, like most people,
you've never given much thought to washing your
fruits and vegetables. While research shows that 80
to 90 percent of consumers do wash their produce
before they use it, the majority of people use a
quick rinse with tap water. While that's a good
start, it doesn't protect you against chemical
residue and people-handling residues that are found
on fruits and vegetables.
The problem starts with crops in the field. Crops
are treated with petroleum-based pesticides and
other agricultural chemicals that are specifically
engineered to be waterproof so they won't wash off
due to rain or irrigation.
Then, once it's harvested, produce from grapes to
broccoli is treated with a wax coating, both to make
it look nice and shiny in the grocery store and to
prolong its shelf life. The wax coating traps
chemicals and other contaminants such as soil. Even
organic produce may still carry a light coating of
water-resistant wax. Water alone doesn't break down
that wax coating to reach the underlying
contaminants.
And here's another unappetizing thought: as many as
20 strangers may have handled your produce before
you put it in your cart, from field workers to the
person stocking the shelves at your local
supermarket to other shoppers. Armed with
information like this, some consumers resort to
using soap or even bleach to clean their produce.
The intention is good, but using non-food grade
products on food you're going to eat could be
potentially harmful. However, there are products
formulated especially for use with produce, such as
Veggie Wash. This all-natural product uses
ingredients from citrus, corn and coconut to remove
harmful substances. "The lemon oil really helps to
break down and cut through the wax," says Steve
Barker of Beaumont Products, the company that makes
Veggie Wash.
Veggie Wash safely and effectively removes wax, soil
and agricultural residue found on standard and
organic produce. It cuts through the wax and
chemicals to leave fruits and vegetables clean and
safer to eat.
It's easy to use and doesn't mean any more time in
the kitchen for busy consumers. For example, for
firm produce such as apples or peppers, simply spray
thoroughly with Veggie Wash, rub with your hands for
20 to 30 seconds and then rinse thoroughly with
water before eating.
For softer or less easily handled produce, simply
"swish" - dip, agitate and rinse - in a diluted
mixture of water and Veggie Wash.
After choosing the ripest, freshest produce you can
find, it makes sense to take care to wash, store and
cook it in a way that maintains its color, taste and
health benefits.
--Courtesy of ARA Content
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