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Q/Do I have to wash organic lettuces, fruits, and veggies?
—Brenna, Columbia, MO
Yup. Whether it’s organic or not, unwashed produce can be a pathway to food-borne illness, says Michael P. Doyle, Ph.D., a professor of food microbiology at the Center for Food Safety at the University of Georgia. Organic goods may come pesticide-free, but harmful microbes like E. coli, salmonella, and the norovirus can be transferred to fruits and veggies from the hands of harvesters or other shoppers who have touched them. These can lead to food poisoning, diarrhea, and—though highly unlikely—chronic illness, kidney failure, or even death. Washing fresh produce under running water before cutting or peeling it helps to lower your risk, says Doyle, and cooking pretty much eliminates it.
What is third-hand…
