July 3, 2020
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has come up with effective guidelines to have clean fruits and vegetables.
It is a must to wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before consumption or storing in fridge or at room temperature.
To curb the spread of coronavirus, experts have repeatedly recommended cleaning, washing and disinfecting of surfaces and objects, including food items namely agri-produce.
As there no concrete proof whether the virus can be transmitted through food, it is recommended that fruits and vegetables are washed properly before consumption to be on safer side.
FSSAI has come up with effective guidelines on how to clean fruits and vegetables. Here’s what their suggestion is:
* Keep the fruits and vegetables bought from vendors within the packet itself in an isolated place.
* Wash the fruits and vegetables thoroughly or put a drop of 50ppm chlorine in warm water and dip them in it.
* Wash them with potable or clean drinking water.
* Do not use disinfectants, cleaning wipes or soap on fresh produce.
* Keep fruits and vegetables required to be refrigerated in the refrigerator. Keep the rest at room temperature in baskets or racks.
In another set of guidelines, FSSAI also advised:
* Do not store or leave the food outside of the house in cars or garages to avoid the risk of food safety issues like temperature abuse or pest exposure.
* Clean the sink and platform where food items have been washed. Do not let the drip fall on the floor or else you must wipe it immediately.
* In case of food packages, sanitize or disinfect by wiping them with an alcohol-based solution or soap and clean water.