On food and cooking the science and lore of the kitchen ( PDFDrive ) 507

that come from contaminating molds (patulin in apple juice, from a Penicillium mold growing on damaged fruit), agricultural chemicals (pesticides, herbicides, fungicides), and soil and air pollutants (dioxins, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) In general, it’s thought that the usual levels of these contaminants not constitute an immediate health hazard On the other hand, they are toxins, and therefore undesirable additions to our diet We can reduce our intake of them by washing produce, by peeling off surface layers, and by buying certified organic produce, which is grown in relatively clean soil without the use of most agricultural chemicals Fresh Produce and Food Poisoning Though we generally associate outbreaks of food poisoning with foods derived from animals, fruits and vegetables are also a significant source They have caused outbreaks of nearly every major food pathogen known (see box below) There are several reasons for this Fruits and vegetables are grown in the soil, a vast reservoir of microbes Field facilities for the harvesting crew (toilets, wash water) and for processing and packing may not be hygienic, so the produce is easily contaminated by people, containers, and machinery And produce is often eaten raw Salad bars in restaurants and cafeterias can collect and grow bacteria for hours, and have been associated with many outbreaks of food poisoning Fruit juices, often made by crushing whole fruits, are readily contaminated by a small number of infected pieces; so fresh cider has become hard to find Nearly all juice production in the United States is now pasteurized Disease Outbreaks Caused by Raw Fruits and Vegetables ... Field facilities for the harvesting crew (toilets, wash water) and for processing and packing may not be hygienic, so the produce is easily contaminated by people, containers, and machinery And produce is often eaten raw...significant source They have caused outbreaks of nearly every major food pathogen known (see box below) There are several reasons for this Fruits and vegetables are grown in the soil, a vast reservoir of microbes... Salad bars in restaurants and cafeterias can collect and grow bacteria for hours, and have been associated with many outbreaks of food poisoning Fruit juices, often made by crushing whole fruits, are readily contaminated by a small number of