If you’ve ever wondered whether a quick rinse actually makes your produce safer, the short answer is yes, and the way you wash matters. This ABC News explainer digs into what’s on our fruit and veg (from soil and microbes to pesticide residues) and what we can realistically remove at home.
The timely hook: recent testing in NSW found a banned chemical (thiometon) on fresh berries, and levels of a legal pesticide (dimethoate) high enough that adults and kids could exceed the Acceptable Daily Intake with less than a standard 125g punnet, despite being within legal limits. That’s a jolt for anyone tossing blueberries into school lunchboxes or breakfast bowls.
Here’s what stands out and why it matters: simple, practical kitchen steps meaningfully reduce risk without making food prep a chore. Food microbiologist Dr Julian Cox says running cold water over produce plus a little rubbing is your everyday first line of defense. For delicate berries, nutrition scientist Dr Emma Beckett suggests a gentle dunk in a vinegar-water mix (she says it won’t affect the flavor).
And for harder-to-clean items, food scientist Dr Jian Zhao recommends a 10-minute soak with a pinch of baking soda or salt, because baking soda’s alkalinity helps break down certain residues. These habits won’t remove what’s absorbed into the flesh, but they can cut down what sits on the surface, along with dirt and microbes.
Regulators are responding, too. Australia’s pesticide oversight includes maximum residue limits and periodic checks, and the APVMA is reviewing dimethoate use on berries after finding Australians are eating more of them than in 2017. That’s good news for families who rely on berries as a go-to healthy snack. Importantly, the experts stress this isn’t a reason to eat fewer plants. It’s a reason to wash smarter.
The takeaway for women managing households, health, and time: you don’t need fancy sprays or extra spending. Keep eating the rainbow; just make washing a quick non-negotiable. Cold water and friction for most produce, a gentle soak for tricky textures, clean hands first, and organic when budget allows.
Quote to bring it home:
“Any washing will mitigate risk … and simply the physical act of washing will help move material from the surface, be it bugs, be it soil, be it chemical residues.” Dr Julian Cox, University of New South Wales
For the full story, tips, and context, read the ABC News piece.
