I have debunked the old wives tale that you have to wash your fruits and vegetables. I hardy ever do and if I do I usually just rub them against my shirt when I do. I hardly ever get sick, so I'm pretty sure washing fruits and vegetables is a waste of your time
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interesting, but it doesn't really debunk it Duff. You have no controlled group. There are people that probably have worse reactions to the coatings and chemicals that end up on the fruits and vegetables. Maybe your a genetic abnormality, we can test that by seeing if you can eat a tin can and not get sick.
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I have debunked the old wives tale that you have to wash your fruits and vegetables. I hardy ever do and if I do I usually just rub them against my shirt when I do. I hardly ever get sick, so I'm pretty sure washing fruits and vegetables is a waste of your time
I'm the same way. Rarely, if ever, wash my fruits and veggies. I also rarely get sick. But I am fully aware that there are potentially things on them that could make me sick or kill me. But I also think those things exist in most food and therefore it seems kind of useless to try and prevent it from one small source when you're taking it in all the time regardless.
I also subscribe to a "let the kid eat dirt" theory where exposing yourself to these things actually builds your immunity. Now if you were to vigorously wash your apples all the time and then one day decide not to, you are probably more susceptible to getting sick from it.
It likely has more to do with the rather strict regulations regarding foodstuffs produced and brought to market than discrediting unwashed fruits and vegetables as a vehicle for foodborne pathogens.
However, still a risky proposition considering the number of hands that touch fruits and vegetables after they are initially cleaned. Just watch people as they sort through produce at the supermarket. Do you trust they all have exceptional hygiene?
As a microbiologist, I can assure you it's not a myth. Vegetables aren't inherently contaminated with pathogens like Salmonella, VTEC, and Campylobacter. They become contaminated during production via many routes:
-Irrigating with contaminated water (faecal contamination from production animals and wild life)
-Faecal contamination from production animals and wild animals
-Faecal contamination from humans handling the produce
-Contamination in the kitchen during meal preparation
While I'm not the most careful either with handling my vegetables (silly considering my background), I haven't gotten sick either. But the risk is real, and a major focus for food microbiologists and epidemiologists alike.
MattyC, while I generally agree with your sentiment regarding "getting a little dirty", some foodborne pathogens like Campylobacter are so incredibly variable that any immunity you gained from infection with one strain, will do little to protect you from a different strain. Generally, there is a reason why vaccines against these major pathogens aren't available. That said, I think getting a little bit dirty, especially in one's youth may have a positive impact on development of allergies. It is interesting that allergies are very much a first world problem, and are relatively rare in third world countries.
I have debunked the old wives tale that you have to wash your fruits and vegetables. I hardy ever do and if I do I usually just rub them against my shirt when I do. I hardly ever get sick, so I'm pretty sure washing fruits and vegetables is a waste of your time
Awesome, next check and report back on your immunity to bullets.
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Captain James P. DeCOSTE, CD, 18 Sep 1993
I am not a Scientist, but
