The spinach outbreaks in 2006 has revealed one shocking question - how can E. coli and other harmful bacteria survive the power washings used to clean vegetables and fruits?

The answer? Disease-causing microbes can make their way inside the leaves of lettuce, spinach and other vegetables and fruit, where surface treatment can not reach. In addition, microbes can form biofilms on the surfaces of fruits and vegetables.

A new study shows that irradiation kills microbes inside fruits and vegetables that otherwise would not be removed with washing alone or using chemical sanitizers.

According to the LA Times, no health problems are associated with eating irradiated food. But irradiated food can not be certified organic and certain groups are concerned about radioactive wastes from the treatment.

The Food and Drug Administration is still reviewing this food treatment. So in the meantime, what can we do to make sure our family is eating clean fruits and vegetables? The University of Maine lists the best way to keep raw fruits and vegetables safe, and tested commercial wash treatments such as Fit and ozone systems. You might be surprised what their results showed.

2006年，在美国，因菠菜而暴发的大肠杆菌疫情让世人震惊并困惑：为什么大肠杆菌以及一些其他有害细菌竟不能被那些强力蔬果洗涤剂所清除？

答案？！那些细菌之所以难以清除，一方面是由于那些易引起疾病的细菌通常都匿藏和附着在莴苣、菠菜等蔬菜水果的叶片内部，然而这些又是一般的表面清洗所不能够到达的地方；另一方面，是因为细菌会在蔬果表面形成生物膜。

一项新的研究表明，辐射能够杀死蔬果里的用一般清洗和消毒杀菌剂都无法清除和消灭的细菌。

据美国洛杉矶时报所称，食用经辐射处理的食物时可以完全放心，丝毫不用担心会有细菌引发疾病。但是经辐射处理的食物就不可能是有机物了，此外，一些机构对辐射处理过程中会产生放射性废物这一情况表示十分担忧。

目前，美国食品和药物管理局还正在进一步审查和研究这种处理食物的方式。

我们究竟该怎么做才能确保我们家人吃到的蔬菜水果是真正干净的呢？日前，美国缅因州州立大学列出了一些用以确保蔬菜水果可安全食用的比较好的方法，并且他们还测试了我们市面上常见的一些蔬果洗涤剂，譬如Fit和ozone系列洗涤剂。不妨去看一下测试结果，测试结果可能会让你大吃一惊哦！