veggie washing – safety issues

[gottaluvthem]

 

well, let me start by saying after  taking a  2-year moratorium from  proudly sharing my life with bunnies (after 25 years of buns!),  I recently  adopted “Darlin”.  I have forgotten some issues.  Mainly, what is the BEST way to wash veggies?  Especially the leafy, like romaine lettuce, etc., to hopefully get rid of the pesticides?  For the hard veggies and fruits, I of course use a mild dish  detergent and rinse very wel; then dry with paper  towels.  Is it enough to  just rinse the romaine, parsley, collards, etc.  with water?  Thanks very much

[Elrohwen]

I just rinse with water – I do the same for the veggies I eat (and I eat a lot) so I figure it’s good enough for my bun.

I have a small salad spinner, so I’ll fill up the bowl of it with lettuce, rinse and wash it all off (letting the water run out of the pasta strainer-type part), then spin for a second to get extra water off (it’s still nice and wet, but then I don’t end up with puddles all over his cage). The salad spinner definitely the easiest way I’ve found to wash a bunch of lettuce and herbs at once.

[RabbitPam]

Years ago it was possible to get lettuces that were recently picked, and therefore had their outer leaves still on them. It was a higher risk of pesticides.
Now the grocery stores have to have a much safer selection, for us as well as for animals, so the level of pesticides to begin with is much, much lower. I believe organically grown vegetables and fruits do not use pesticides at all, but someone here may correct me on that.

So I also just rinse with water for myself as well as my bunny. I tend to leave the water on at the end to give another source of water besides my water bowl, just to insure good hydration of my beastie.

[Elrohwen]

Pam, I didn’t know that about the outer leaves of lettuce. Good to know!

And I think you’re right that organic uses no fertilizer or pesticides.

[Sage Cat]

According to the US health department: washing vegetables with cool water gets off 98% of what ever might be on them.

According to those “veggy washing soaps” using them and a cool water wash gets off 98% of what ever might be on the veggies.

According to me: don’t waist your money on veggy wash stuff. Cool water is the way to go. Salad spinners are great!

[boogercj]

Agree; water’s the way to go, and I’m sure the bunnies appreciate the extra water that the wet veg supplies. And you’re right – anything that is certified organic must not use any pesticides, and only organic fertiliser can be used as feed. Organic food has really taken off here in the UK (about 75% of what I eat is organic now ). What’s it like stateside?

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I believe organically grown vegetables and fruits do not use pesticides at all, but someone here may correct me on that.

Your absolutely right-at least in the US this is now a government regulated term
http://usda-fda.com/Articles/Organic.htm
http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm114299.htm

I just rinse my veggies-they all ‘apparently’ are prewashed and ready to use-but still

[jerseygirl]

I just rinse my veggies-they all ‘apparently’ are prewashed and ready to use-but still

Ditto that. I recommend washing “pre washed” veg too. Also, where greens are sprayed down with water in  the store for that fresh look. This really annoys me because if they’re too wet for too long,  they start to perish.   Likely bacteria activity in the stagnant water too.

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