If you buy your vegetables from NTUC FairPrice like many of us do, you might have been concerned about images that have been circulating of bright blue stains seen on imported packaged greens, earlier this week.
Several worried customers complained about the vegetables, sharing photos of them on FairPrice’s Facebook page.
On Wednesday, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) said it was investigating reports of the blue stains.
It was all a bit of a (concerning) mystery until yesterday (28 September) when a spokesperson for NTUC FairPrice confirmed what these stains were.
Fungicide: Should you be worried?
The blue stains were reportedly “residual remnants of undissolved fungicide”, said the spokesperson.
“All food products sold by FairPrice comply with stringent regulatory requirements and have been approved for sale by the authorities. Food safety is of paramount concern to FairPrice and we have conducted an investigation into this matter,” the spokesperson said.
“Nonetheless, we acknowledge that better care should have been taken to process the vegetables before they were packed.”
According the AVA, the fungicide is a copper-based one. It is approved for agricultural use and can be easily and safely removed by washing.
How to clean fruit and vegetables for your family
Mums and dads, unless you buy pure organic (and you know 100% that no chemicals have been used), it’s highly likely that the fruit and vegetables you buy for your family contain traces of pesticides and fungicides.
Now before you get alarmed, you should know that Singapore’s AVA has strict processes in place to ensure all imported foods are safe for consumption. And like the fungicide that caused those blue stains, whatever is used to keep fruit and vegetables bug, worm and disease-free is almost always approved by agricultural authorities.
Still, you want to ensure that what you feed your family is clean and safe. So, how do you make sure fruit and vegetables you buy is thoroughly cleaned to remove all traces of chemicals?
- Salt water wash: Washing your fruits and vegetables thoroughly in a mild solution of salt water (2% salt) will get rid of almost all pesticide residue. Be extra thorough with fruits and vegetable that may have hidden residue in their crevices, such as apples, mangoes, okra and tomatoes.
- Vinegar: Make a solution of 10% vinegar: 90% water and soak your fruits and vegetables in them. After about 10-15 minutes, was thoroughly under running water.
- Warm water: Soak your veggies in warm water for a short while, and then after that rinse them under the tap. This should effectively remove any chemical residue.
Source: Channel NewsAsia, Image: Facebook/Jeff Yeo
How do you clean your fruits and veggies? Share your tips with us in a comment!