The World Food Safety Day is celebrated on the 7th of June under the banners of the World Health Organisation and Food and Agricultural Organisation. With the theme of Food Safety : Everyone’s Business, promotion of safer fruits and vegetables at every level is the aim.
With that idea in mind , five key factors pertaining to growing safer fruits and vegetables were compiled. The aim is to promote health by decreasing the chances of microbial contamination.
Five Keys to Growing Safer Fruits and Vegetables.
- Practice Good Personal Hygiene :
Since microbial contamination can occur from manure, animal feces, body fluids etc., we must follow the following steps.
- Ensure proper washing and drying of hands before touching any produce.
- Wear clean clothes and bathe everyday.
- Use proper disinfection and covering techniques for any bruises or cuts.
- Urinate or Defecate in sanitary toilets.
- Protect Fields from animal Fecal Contamination
Microbes from fecal matter can directly contaminate crops. Or they can be indirectly contaminating via water sources.
- Animals should not be allowed in fields.
- Animal pens should be downhill if possible from crop fields.
- Fields and nearby areas should be garbage free.
- Use Treated Fecal Matter
Fecal matter can be used as a very good manure if treated scientifically treated. If unprocessed, it might lead to severe contamination of fruits and vegetables.
- Apply proper methods of treatment, be it any animal faces.
- Apply manure before plantation.
- Create a gap of time between manure application and plantation.
- Evaluate and manage risks from irrigation water
Water is one of the most essential resources of agricultural activities. It is also a easy source of contamination.
- Proper identification of all sources of water.
- Understand the risk of microbial infections.
- Protect water source from fecal mater.
- Mitigation methods for contaminated or water from unknown source.
- Keep harvest and Storage equipment clean and dry
Fruits and vegetables have high susceptibility to microbes. This makes it very important to make harvest, storage, packaging and supply safe.
- Clean and dry all equipment.
- Keep storage equipment off ground during and after harvest.
- Clean fruits and vegetables before storage.
- Store in cool environment.
- Limit access only to necessary staff.
These were the Five keys to growing safer Fruits and Vegetables. You can read the full article from WHO here.
Watch this video to learn more about cultivating fruits and vegetables at home.
You can also read the Five Keys for Safer Aquaculture Products , Five Keys for Safer Food and the Key Messages from WHO and FAO .
