I now must wash EVERY grape or strawberry.

[MJ7]

Originally Posted by astrohip

I thought everybody did this?

I can't say I have ever heard anyone in my life do this, that's fine though, do what you wish.

Originally Posted by mainebrokerman

I just throw my grapes, blueberries, raspberries, cherries,

potatos, peaches,,lettuce,, beans, I throw them all right in the washer with a little bleach

I know ,that one little germ is out to get me

[Beretta]

Ok, I think that there have been ample replies, and some are leaning toward off topic so it's time to close this one. Thanks for your participation everyone!

[TheotherMarie]

I too am a bit OCD about washing grapes.
If you put a bunch of grapes in a bowl of water, and feel the water afterward, you can feel the residue. I always wonder what didn't get washed off.
But if you put a bunch of organic grapes in a bowl of water, there is no residue.
So if they're organic, I just swish them in a bowl of water, and them give them a rinse.
If they're not organic, I soak them in a bowl of water, then pick off each grape and rub it while it gets rinsed under running water.
OCD? Yes. But I do this for my husband.

I don't consider it "germophobia." I consider it trying not to ingest pesticides.

[Suburban_Guy]

I've always just rinsed my fruits under running water for a bit, nothing more than that. Never had any problems with getting sick.

FDA also recommends as such, and not to use detergents or soaps:

Raw Produce: Selecting and Serving it Safely

[TheotherMarie]

And p.s., I only buy organic berries.

There's a "Dirty Dozen" list of fruits and veg to avoid eating if they aren't organic. Stonefruits, berries, grapes…

My husband is a cancer survivor. We do what we can.

[bostonguy1960]

OP here.

Didn't the thread just get closed?...but replies have still wiggled in. Hmmm....

Thanks for the feedback, even the negative ones.

Yes, I have major OCD, including hoarding, and am foolishly not being treated, although tried briefly fifteen years ago. But this new obsession with extra clean produce even puzzles me. But I noted a couple respondents here were almost as obsessive about clean fruit.

My boss offered me some berries recently. No, I didn't (and wouldn't) ask how well he cleaned them. Didn't even ask if they were organic I ate a few. Still alive.

It was interesting to read about the person who sees residue when immersing non-organic fruits in a bowl of water vs. a cleaner bowl of water with organic fruit. Since most people eat non-organic, and appear very healthy, it's probably not cause for concern for most.

[in_newengland]

OP, there is probably some medication that would help you with your problems, including the compulsion to wash everything. I wash berries if I buy them in a store because I don't know who has touched them but if I pick them myself, I pop them right into my mouth. At a friend's house I would assume they rinsed the grapes off first. But none of my friends are dirty so I wouldn't worry.

People in the olde days didn't have the ability to wash everything first and a few did die of food poisoning (mostly spoiled food due to lack of refrigeration) but most of the time people died really young in childhood or they lived to be very old--no matter whether they washed their food or not. If that makes any sense.

[mainebrokerman]

Originally Posted by bostonguy1960

OP here.

Didn't the thread just get closed?...but replies have still wiggled in. Hmmm....

Thanks for the feedback, even the negative ones.

Yes, I have major OCD, including hoarding, and am foolishly not being treated, although tried briefly fifteen years ago. But this new obsession with extra clean produce even puzzles me. But I noted a couple respondents here were almost as obsessive about clean fruit.

My boss offered me some berries recently. No, I didn't (and wouldn't) ask how well he cleaned them. Didn't even ask if they were organic I ate a few. Still alive.

It was interesting to read about the person who sees residue when immersing non-organic fruits in a bowl of water vs. a cleaner bowl of water with organic fruit. Since most people eat non-organic, and appear very healthy, it's probably not cause for concern for most.

here's something to ponder

if you buy too much fruit and it over-ripens, out come the fruit flies

so, if we eat the fruit before it over ripens, are we eating the fruit flies?? and/or the larvae??

[Ohky0815]

I dont rinse my fruit or veggies. Youre suppose to rinse canned veggies too but i dont.

[Beretta]

Originally Posted by Beretta

Ok, I think that there have been ample replies, and some are leaning toward off topic so it's time to close this one. Thanks for your participation everyone!

I guess actually closing the thread is helpful which has now been done.