CLEAN: To what extent do US consumers follow techniques for washing fresh produce that are associated with favorable food safety outcomes?

Moderate, consistent evidence shows that US consumers are not following recommended produce washing techniques at home.

A total of two cross-sectional studies that both received neutral quality ratings were reviewed regarding the extent to which US consumers follow techniques for washing fresh produce that are associated with favorable food safety outcomes.

Dharod et al, (2007a) found that among Puerto Rican home meal preparers, 87% washed the lettuce and 85% washed the tomatoes under running water while preparing salad. In their direct observation study among 99 US college students. Anderson et al, (2004) found that six did not clean any of the vegetables used to prepare a salad, 70 rinsed the lettuce, 93 rinsed the tomato, 47 rinsed the carrots and 55 rinsed the cucumber with water. This study also documented that average washing time ranged from 4.8 to 12.4 seconds, substantially shorter than the time recommended by the author of 60 seconds. These findings indicate that washing practices can vary significantly for different vegetables and that these behaviors need to be substantially improved.

Anderson et al, 2004 (neutral quality), a cross-sectional study, compared consumer food-handling behaviors with the FightBAC! consumer food-safety recommendations. A total of 99 subjects (92 women and seven men) were randomly recruited by telephone and videotaped in their home while preparing a meal. Videotapes were coded according to Fight BAC! recommendations, a food safety survey was administered and temperature data was collected. Key findings in terms of cleaning vegetables included: Six subjects made no attempt to clean any of the vegetables that were used to prepare the salad, 70 subjects rinsed the lettuce, 93 rinsed the tomato, 47 rinsed the carrots and 55 rinsed the cucumber with water. Overall, subjects did not follow the Fight BAC! recommendations for safe food handling.

Dharod et al, 2007a (neutral quality), a cross-sectional study, assessed the magnitude of differences between self-reported and observed food safety practices among 60 Puerto Rican women recruited in inner city Hartford, Connecticut. Three home visits were conducted over four days: first (day one), delivery of food ingredients for preparation of chicken breast (CB)/salad meal; second (day three), household observations; third (day four), closed-end self-report food safety interview survey. Accuracy of self-report was calculated as follows: (Desirable self-reported food safety behaviors confirmed through direct observation) + (undesirable behaviors observed and then acknowledged through self-report) / total sample. The following behaviors were observed (percent of subjects) in preparing fresh lettuce and tomatoes for consumption: 62% washed lettuce in colander after cutting it, 25% washed whole head of lettuce in water and 13% did not wash the lettuce. Twenty-five percent washed tomatoes in colander after cutting, 60% washed whole tomatoes in water and 15% did not wash tomatoes. Accuracy of self-reported food safety behaviors was high for washing lettuce and tomatoes. Investigators conclude that over-reporting errors must be considered when interpreting data derived from self-reported food safety consumer surveys.