Produce may need more than a wash

Apr 13, 2008

Washing fresh produce may not be enough to make contaminated food safe, according to a report on KTVU.com about USDA findings. KTVU is the Bay Area Fox Television affiliate.

USDA found that irradiation could provide a reliable way to reduce the number of foodborne illnesses reported each year in the United States, according to the director of the study.

For the story, the TV station sought comment from UC Davis Cooperative Extension specialist Christine Bruhn. Bruhn said some activists are opposed to irradiation, but the process is gaining consumer acceptance as studies have shown that it is effective at reducing pathogens that cause illness, according to the version posted on the Web.


By Jeannette E. Warnert
Author - Communications Specialist