I am not a germ freak. I mean, I don’t keep a container of hand sanitizer inside every car door like some people I know (Carrie).
But…
I will never look at a shopping cart the same way thanks to my mother.
For years I have been blissfully grocery shopping the exact same way. I grab a cart, toss my purse in the front, and head to the produce department. Until my mom pointed out that the exact spot where I pile my produce is where mom’s plop their diaper-wearing toddlers to sit during their shopping sprees.
SICK.
And then…
I was reading on the Eat Cleaner Web site that on average, over 20 sets of hands touch your produce before it gets to you. Now, I am sure that all 20 of those sets of hands were crystal clean (<—sarcasm, in case you missed it) but what about the 10 grocery shoppers ahead of you that picked up that apple or bundle of asparagus and put it back…what about their hands? Uck!
If I think about it too much I would never leave the house.
If you are wondering where your food has been, or how many people have touched your melons (orange you glad I didn’t say banana?) then you might want to wash them off with a product like Eat Cleaner.
Eat Cleaner is like a hand sanitizer for your food. The natural spray and wipes rids your foods of pesticides, germs, wax, and coodies.
Want to win some Eat Cleaner Fruit + Veggie Wash and Seafood + Poultry Wash? Then, visit the Eat Better Web site and come back and tell us in the comment section something you learned or a product you’d like to try.
Oh, and Eat Cleaner is a social bunch, so you get all sorts of bonus points if you follow them on Twitter, Facebook, and sign up for their newsletter. This contest will close on Thursday and the winner will be announced on Friday, May 21st.
Now I really must go wash my groceries and then take a nap…I’m feeling beet.
Miz says:
May 19th 2010sometimes I read statistics and think HOLYMOLY ITS A WONDER WE MAKE IT THROUGH :)
especially the one about the little mints that sit unwrapped at the counter of restaurant checkoutplaces…
have you seen that one?
**shudder**
Jess (Fit Chick in the City) says:
May 19th 2010Okay, I’m officially grossed out. I need to start washing my produce on a regular basis… yes, I’m one of those people.
MrsFatass says:
May 19th 2010I get so grossed out by things like this. Yet, I cannot make myself remember not to put anything where the babies sit, and I cannot bring myself to do more than rinse. Okay. You win. I’ll get some cleaner. But I swear I think the reason my kids rarely get sick is because I they eat diaper germs on their veggies. Just sayin.
Lindsay says:
May 19th 2010Wow, they have a lots of products. I always wanted to try the veggie bags too! Hope I win. I m following them on twitter now. :)
Marisa (Loser for Life) says:
May 19th 2010You can use this on poultry, too?! That is very cool!! I have to admit, I fall into the hand sanitizerama category. I wear a holster and whip it out everywhere I go…kidding, kidding. Sort of ;)
The Candid RD says:
May 19th 2010ewwww, I just bought fresh kale last night and was thinking “I wonder how many people touched this before I did”…..ugh, I always think oh well, it’s getting cooked! Gross.
My mom always used to say little things to me about my purse, or where I put my hands that may harbor germs. Like you, I will never forget those little comments either!
Lily @ Lily's Health Pad says:
May 19th 2010I always wipe my cart! I read an article saying there is more fecal matter on the carts than in a bathroom…..EEK!
Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg says:
May 19th 2010Oh man. I am SO bad about washing my produce. I need to start really getting on that. I’ll pick up some of this cleaner!
Jody - Fit at 52 says:
May 19th 2010I have read more about this than I want to know AND seen shows… like one showing what people do in the supermarket & how many things they touch & then touch the fruit/veggies. I saw one where a lady climbed up on the area where the bananas were.. OUCH and UGH!
Monica Kirby says:
May 19th 2010The seafood wash sounds interesting. I have always heard to not get your seafood too wet when cleaning it. (sounds silly , doesn’t it?) as it will become mushy. This could solve that problem.
amanda says:
May 19th 2010I am also so bad about cleaning my produce. I really should take more time because of the nasty stuff my food is exposed too. Sometimes I think ignorance maybe isn’t bliss!
sian-girlgetstrong says:
May 19th 2010Yikeess…I always to try to wash and re-wash all my produce BUT poulty wash? never heard of that…
Melissa says:
May 19th 2010I always put the fragile stuff in the front seat of the carriage. You know, strawberries, blueberries, cocktail tomatoes. I will never look at that front seat of the carriage the same way again. Yuck!
Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman says:
May 19th 2010The more I think about these things, the more I don’t want to eat anything. I am a germaphobe, so the idea of people fondling my produce grosses me out. And the idea of touching the handle on the shopping cart makes my skin crawl. Thank goodness for antibacterial gel.
Priscilla says:
May 19th 2010The heavy wax covering all things produce – apples, cucumbers, pears – skeeves me out! The Grab-n-Go Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Wipes from Eat Cleaner look so cool – I’ve never seen the fruit/vegetable cleaners in wipe style! And no need to rinse – how easy is that for an on-the-go lifestyle?!
She-Fit says:
May 19th 2010omg, this is sick… I wonder how many times I’ve ate an apple that I never washed! I’m definitely washing up my fruits and veggies. Thanks for the info
Bethany says:
May 19th 2010I’ve seen this a few times and thought it was a good idea, but never known enough about it to feel confident in the purchase. After checking out their website I’m definately going to be picking up the spray and wipes to use on my fruits and veggies!!! Thanks for the info!
Angela @ A Healthy Fit says:
May 19th 2010Oh my! That is so gross and I never thought of it before either. I would love to try the fruit & veggie wash. I don’t need to be eating any wax or pesticides!!!
april says:
May 19th 2010I admit.. I have hand sanitizer everywhere!! Oh, and I’d like to try the veggie bags!
kalli@fitandfortysomething says:
May 19th 2010oh god this is disturbing!
Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday says:
May 19th 2010Food for thought: Anna and Kristina’s grocery bag tested produce cleanser and found them to be not as effective at removing germs as washing produce in cold water.
Naomi(onefitfoodie) says:
May 19th 2010AH that scared me!! sometimes I forget to wash an apple or what not but now NEVER agaiN! i think i am goingt o wash them right before i bring them home, then I will never forget!
who knew there was seafood and poultry wash>?!?!
ashley says:
May 19th 2010What a great giveaway! I’d love to try their reusable produce bags :-)
BARBARA says:
May 19th 201020 DIFFERENT SETS OF HANDS!!! Need I say more? Extends life by up to 200%, natural, cleans what water can’t, contaminent free etc. I often eat mushrooms, peppers etc RIGHT OUT OF THE BAG I put them in- this would be a life saver! Love the grab and go wipes and how convenient they are! I so want to win this!!!! As I am sure my immune system and health would greatly thank me!
Mom says:
May 19th 2010L O L
carrie says:
May 19th 2010thanks. now i have something else to worry about.
Jennifer says:
May 19th 2010ok, confession, not a veggie lover but ya got me thinkin about the darn shopping carts. as a clean freak, i am def getting me some of this poultry wash. thanks for the wake up.
Ibu says:
May 19th 2010It helps extends the shelf life of the produce by 200%..that is impressive..
FatFighterTV says:
May 20th 2010I just wanted to say that I have friends and my dear husband who NEVER washes fruit before they eat it! And you can bet I have told them many, many, many times how disgusting I find this. That’s all. I just needed to get that out.
Vicki (Buttonnose) says:
May 20th 2010I have always known that we should wash all our fruits and vegetables, but I have often failed to do so. Recently I have become more healthy aware and have been eating a lot more of this food and with the recent news regarding pesticides this caused me more concern. I am glad there is something out there I can purchase that will assist and ensuring our safety against such pesticides.
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