48 million people each year become victims of foodborne illness from contaminated food. Don’t be one of them. You may feel water alone is not good enough and perhaps you have heard that baking soda solutions can remove bacteria and pesticides from your fruit. Perhaps you have heard it is a natural cleanser.
If it’s it natural it can’t be harmful, right? Not so, before you dissolve a box of baking soda in a sink full of water to bathe your fruit let’s talk. Is there more to the story that you should know?
Baking Soda Baths For You Fresh Fruit
According to the FDA 48 million people suffer the consequences of foodborne illness each year. For some people, the symptoms may be mild but for the very young, very old, pregnant, and immune-compromised, foodborne illness can have a severe to fatal consequences.
Washing your fruit and other produce before consuming is a must. The FDA lists seven steps to clean your fruits and vegetables. Start with washing your hands and sanitizing your work area including the sink or bowl you intend to use. The FDA recommendation is to gently rub your fruit under running water.
Rub your fruit under running water. Really? What about fruit like berries? It would be a bit awkward to rub each little tiny blueberry under running water. And very time-consuming; so this is one reason some recommend washing your fresh fruit in a baking soda bath.
It only takes a small amount of baking soda about a teaspoon per two cups of water. Simply soak your fruit in the mixture for about 15 minutes and gently swish them around before draining off the solution and rinsing will clean water.
Be careful not to soak too long as the baking soda can start to break down delicate produce like berries and plums. Check out the complete instructions recommended by Arm & Hammer™.
Do I Still Need To Use Baking Soda If I Cook My Fruit?
So you bought a flat of strawberries or a bushel of apples with the intent of making jam or baking in a pie. You are still wise to wash the produce first. Yes, high temperatures from boiling or baking may destroy some bacteria strains but it won’t get rid of the pesticides or grit from dirt that may be lingering on your beautiful fruit.
Fruits and other produce need to be washed before preparing for human consumption. Studies show that a baking soda wash can remove some pesticides from the surface of your produce.
Hazards You Should Know
Thoroughly rinse your fruit with clean water after soaking them in a baking soda bath. I cannot stress this enough. Using large amounts of baking soda may have a poisonous effect. Baking soda (also known as sodium bicarbonate) overdoses can cause dehydration, kidney failure, seizures, and even heart attacks. Never give sodium bicarbonate to children.
Follow the recommended usage and learn the signs of sodium bicarbonate overdose and hazards. For more information read what the experts say at medicalnews.com.
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