Veg & fruit

[achingarm]

Is it safe to eat Veg & fruit from Spain/Italy?

Obviously I wash it but scared the virus could still be on them. Tomato you don’t was under hot water with soap!

I’d be interested in anyone’s opinion.

[achingarm]

Thank you. I’m just a bit anxious.

Stay safe xx

[gilreid1]

No indication that the virus can be transmitted from food. Why only ask about Spain 🇪🇸 and Italy 🇮🇹?

[achingarm in reply to gilreid1]

Seem to be the most prolific countries atm.

[Celtic]

This was a concern of mine, too, especially some 3 weeks ago in the early days of the virus with foods like berries, for instance, coming from Spain, when we had an initial low level of infection in. the U.K. I rinse them well after letting them soak in water with vinegar added for a few minutes.

[achingarm in reply to Celtic]

Thanks for the topi miss cucumbers tomatoes & lots of green veg. What are your thoughts on apples pears etc?

[Bagrat in reply to achingarm]

The advice is wash in water as you would usually. They did say soapy water and rinse but then advice on this specific video ( which of course I can't find!) changed. I keep all fruit and veg in quarantine for 48 hours then wash before putting away.

[Celtic in reply to Bagrat]

Bagrat, I love the idea of putting our fruit and veg “in quarantine” - well at least they’re keeping us company!😂

[achingarm in reply to Bagrat]

Hi Bagrat thanks for your advice

[Celtic in reply to achingarm]

We wash them all with a dilute water/washing-up liquid solution before eating. Hubby has always done that even before Covid-19. We have traditionally had mostly organic fruit and veg to hopefully take in as few pesticides as possible (I have just a sole kidney, only filtering out at around 40% so slow to filter out toxins) and hubby has aggressive cancer. So being ultra careful now.

[achingarm in reply to Celtic]

Thanks for the advice. Look after yourselves x

[Celtic in reply to achingarm]

You, too, thank you. 🙏🏼

[Sunnie2day]

I make a very weak bleach and water solution then either soak (lettuce, broccoli, similar) for 2-4 minutes, or spray on tomatoes and fruits in a sieve and let sit for 2-4 minutes. I rinse (and rinse and rinse - otherwise there is a faint odour of bleach on the produce). I picked this up living in Guatemala and we never had any sort of food poisoning. I did catch Dengue Fever but that was a mosquito bite.

The solution is one scant teaspoon bleach to 4L water (scant meaning be strict - don't hold the spoon over the water to prevent extra through accidental spillage).

[achingarm in reply to Sunnie2day]

Bleach ok? X

[Sunnie2day in reply to achingarm]

Household bleach only, and a very small amount - one teaspoon into a jug of 4L of water, stir well.

You can also use vinegar (white distilled) but it's not as efficient a disinfectant as a very weak solution of bleach and water. But vinegar, owing to the acidic properties, will kill most (not all) germs (and actual bugs like those little critters that hide in lettuce and cabbage), the 'fragrance' dissipates, and it's not as scary to use as household bleach diluted with water.

[Celtic]

It’s interesting hearing what different measures people are taking to protect themselves and their families.

As for, mossies, Sunnie2day, I could never go to any countries where mosquitoes were rife- they love me! Even our garden is out of bounds after about 4pm without first plastering myself with repellent. I’ve had some horrid reactions over the years. Dengue Fever sounds nasty - poor you.

[Sunnie2day in reply to Celtic]

Mosquitoes are bad, but I live in Scotland and please believe me, 'skeeters got nothin' on our absolutely horrible midgies!

My husband has a cartoon of the little wretches flying around our currently locked-down Scotland and one is saying 'I'm starving, where did all the (expletive) people go?!'.

ETA: Dengue Fever isn't called 'break-bone fever' for no reason, it is horrible. And my bonus gift from it was recurrent pericarditis. It is awful, I got to Stage Two - the next stages are near-fatal, and fatal. Horrible, horrible disease!

[Celtic in reply to Sunnie2day]

I have a dear friend in Scotland (bridesmaid!) and she tells me about the midgies. Hope they don’t come looking for snacks down South!

Isn’t it a tragedy when such illnesses as Dengue do such lasting damage. On the plus side, you’re still here. Keep well!

[Sunnie2day]

How to put this politely? Scientists studying the virus have discovered it survives the stomach and passes through the intestinal tract live through to the end product.

It's why they're pushing for people to close the lid when flushing as the live virus in faecal waste (well, I did try to be polite, but heigh ho) sprays microscopic particles all over the room if the lid isn't down during a flush. And the virus lives on hard surfaces at least 72 hours, possibly more. How often do you deep clean your bath/shower/water closet?

So far the virus does not survive the urethra so urine is virus free - but it does remain live in faeces and can cause the virus to be contracted by anyone who comes into contact with even the most microscopic faecal waste spray after a flush without closing the lid.

Btw, closing the lid is a very good habit to stick with after the pandemic - faecal waste spray hits the entire room otherwise.

Do the test every mum uses to demonstrate to sons and husbands why they must close the lid before flushing - pour the contents of a blue or green food colouring bottle into the toilet bowl and flush.

Then try not to gag when you see how far and how much of the room is sprayed with little blue or green dots and you realise flushing with the lid open sprays anything in that bowl all over your toothbrush, the hand towel, the shower curtain, the walls...

[MissP77]

I am rinsing fruit and veg in Milton

[achingarm]

Wouldn’t have thought of that. Thank you. Stay safe x