Fruit and Vegetables
Food Safety
Washing fruits and vegetables is an important step in food safety.
- FDA: 7 Tips for Cleaning Fruits, Vegetables
Fresh produce can become contaminated in many ways, but following these simple steps can help protect you and your family from foodborne illness.
- Sanitation and illness
Information from the University of Minnesota on sanitation, illness, and allergies, including a video on why washing fruits and vegetables before use is important.
Canning and preserving
- Home Canning
Information on canning and other food preservation methods, food safety when preserving foods, and selling home-canned foods.
Fruit and vegetable juice
- Produce Safety: Safe Handling of Raw Produce and Fresh-Squeezed Fruit and Vegetable Juices: FDA
The Food and Drug Administration is advising consumers to be aware of safe handling and preparation practices for fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Two Simple Steps to Juice Safety: Foodsafety.gov
When purchasing juice, take these two simple steps to protect you and your family.
- Talking About Juice Safety: What You Need to Know: FDA
Juices provide many essential nutrients, but consuming untreated juices may not be so healthful. When fruits and vegetables are fresh-squeezed, harmful bacteria from the outside of the produce can become a part of the finished product. If these bacteria are ingested, children risk serious illness or even death. In fact, recent serious outbreaks of foodborne illness involving young children have been traced to the drinking of untreated juices.
Last Updated: 07/15/2026