People hardly think to do this before taking a bite out of one of the nation’s favourite fruits
For years, people have been nonchalantly eating bananas straight from their fruit bowls without a second thought. But there’s a crucial step many are skipping that they wouldn’t dream of overlooking with other foods.
Health experts have long said it is important to wash your bananas before eating the creamy fruit. It may strike you as weird to wash something when you’re probably going to throw the freshly washed skin in the bin anyway, but this could change your mind next time you fancy a banana.
The Huffington Post has previously highlighted that bananas, despite their tougher exterior, should be treated like any other fruit and given a good rinse. Tamika Sims, senior director of food technology communications at the International Food Information Council, told the publication: “You should be washing produce that has a peel with clean running water, even if you plan to discard it.”
She added that this hygienic habit was “best practice in safe food handling to minimise the transfer of dirt or microbes that may be on the skin to the fruit”. Sims added: “Even if it feels counterintuitive, you should wash first.”
Despite the fact that you might peel a banana and chuck the skin, washing it is essential to get rid of any lurking dirt, bacteria, and potential pesticides from the surface, which prevents them from being transferred to your hands and subsequently into your mouth.
Consuming any unwashed fruit can result in foodborne illnesses due to harmful bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, and listeria, not to mention the potential ingestion of pesticides and other contaminants. Unwashed produce might also harbour dirt, debris, and even insects which are not fit for consumption – and bananas are no different.
Certain groups are more susceptible to food poisoning from unwashed produce, including:
- children under the age of 5
- adults aged 65 and over
- pregnant women
- people with weakened immune systems
Healthline reports that typical banana harvests often come with a coating of pesticides. The outlet claimed: “Pesticide exposure has been linked to several adverse effects on health and may increase the risk of conditions like autism, cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, and dementia.”
How should you properly wash a banana?
The best method is to clean a banana isn’t rocket science – just hold it under cool running tap water for about 30 seconds, using your hands to brush off any visible soil. It’s important to avoid soaps or detergents as they can leave harmful residues behind.
Food safety specialist Trevor Craig told HuffPost readers: “If you really want to go for it, you can use a diluted vinegar solution of one part vinegar to four parts clean water to spray your food. This will help kill some bacteria and won’t leave a bad taste or possibly dangerous chemicals on your food.”
The expert also recommended that for those eager to ensure their fruits are spotless, using a brush on thicker-skinned fruits and vegetables, like avocados, could be beneficial. He said: “Skins are often textured and have lots of space for things to fit in that you don’t want to be in your finished product.” Once you’ve finished washing, pat the banana dry with a clean kitchen towel.