Is it smart to wash apples, pears and peppers with diluted dish soap?
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Patricia Schutte, nutritionist
It is wise to always wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water. It is not necessary to use detergent. Washing is especially important to remove dirt and dust. Also the possible present in this bacteria or viruses remove you like this. Using dish soap won’t get your apples, pears, and peppers much cleaner. You may also get some dishwashing liquid. Apples sometimes have a somewhat greasy (wax) layer, this is formed naturally and can be eaten.
Wash fruits and vegetables to remove residues pesticides there’s no point in rinsing it off. These products are usually water resistant, so that crops are still protected even after a rain shower. In addition, they can be in the product in small quantities. The chance that you ingest too many pesticides is very small. The law sets a maximum amount for each pesticide that may still be on fruit and vegetables.
Do you also have a question? Then ask one of our experts. Always go to your doctor with urgent questions, the experts are not the right person for that. They also do not diagnose. You can find the other conditions here.
Patricia Schutte has been working as an information officer at the Nutrition Center in The Hague for more than 25 years. She answers questions about healthy, sustainable and safe food.
