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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Retiring SOU president Roy Saigo recalls days in Japanese-American camps ... Since You Asked: New airbows not legal for hunting in Oregon ... Recruiting firm didn't pick Patridge ... Retiring SOU president Roy Saigo recalls days in Japanese-American camps ... Since You Asked: New airbows not legal for hunting in Oregon ... Recruiting firm didn't pick Patridge ... SINCE YOU ASKED Since You Asked: Be sure to rinse those fruits and veggies Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jul. 28, 2016 at 12:01 AM Posted Jul. 28, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News I was rinsing some carrots under the tap water the other day, and my husband asked why I even bothered, since — he said — anything really bad for you would not wash off with a simple rinsing. I think that even a simple rinsing is better than nothing at all, but I wonder what you wise ones have to say on the subject? — Loni, Medford Well, Loni, what we have to say is ... eat your fruit and veggies! But, first, rinse them under running, cold water. There are some conflicting opinions on the value of rinsing, but there seems to be agreement a water rinse is a wise, if not perfect, step to take. Herbicides, dirt and bacteria may cling to the outside of your vegetables, even if you can’t see them, and a good rinse will remove a considerable amount of those unwelcome clingers. A study from the University of Maine said that when produce is rinsed thoroughly, water can remove 98 percent of bacteria. According to a 2014 Wall Street Journal article, Michael Doyle, a professor of food microbiology at the University of Georgia and director of its Center for Food Safety, agrees that washing your produce is a good idea. However, he said, it's not foolproof in removing bacteria, especially for vegetables with multiple layers, such as lettuce. He recommends consumers buy heads of lettuce instead of cut, bagged lettuce, because bacteria can get into the cut lettuce leaves, where no amount of washing will remove it. "Remove the outer leaves, wash your hands, then rinse the remaining leaves," he says in the WSJ story. He said fresh herbs, such as basil, rosemary, cilantro and parsley, also should be washed. And, of course, don't set your produce down on the same surface that just held your uncooked chicken or hamburger. Doyle said in the article that peeling vegetables is a tried-and-true measure for reducing the risk of ingesting unwanted impurities. There are produce washes you can buy or prepare, but Doyle said a 20-second rinse under the tap should do the trick in most cases. So there you have it, Loni, a water rinse will help keep you healthy when you're trying to be healthy by eating fruits and veggies. Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected]. To see a collection of columns, go to mailtribune.com/youasked . We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jul. 28, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501