by Kate Riley

Do you ever wonder how clean your cutting board or dishes are? Or what is the safest product to disinfect vegetables and fruits? Many of us, whether living or visiting the Riviera Maya, have experienced the unpleasant effects of the array of microorganisms that exist in our tap and recreational waters from contamination with waste sources that seep through the underground rivers and out to the sea.

With conscious hygiene, especially in the kitchen, we can prevent these microorganisms from entering our bodies through our food. But how safe and effective are the products we use in disinfection? Microdyne, the most commonly used biocide, in the blue bottles, is actually silver! Both silver and copper have been used for centuries in water purification, where coins were thrown into drinking wells. Silver ions bond to the proteins in the cells of microorganisms, making them inactive. Though this method is quite effective, it needs long exposure time—yes, they do mean wait 15 minutes—and may not kill all organisms on vegetables, especially when you use it with tap water. Silver imparts little taste in water, and as far we know has minimal effects within the body.

Many people also use a few drops of bleach, or chlorine, to disinfect fruits and vegetables. Chlorine is also used to make water potable in municipal treatment. Chlorine is very reactive and has been shown to form a plaque on walls of arteries, leading to heart disease. It also reacts with organic particles to form other compounds (trihalomethanes) which have been linked to cancer.

But some common household products may also be used with greater safety. Hydrogen peroxide (agua oxigenada) is a strong oxidant and is produced in our own bodies, in honey, and by sunlight upon water. It is especially useful to use in a spray bottle for cutting boards, knives, chicken and fish.

Vegetables and fruits may be sprayed with hydrogen peroxide and/or vinegar, left to set a few minutes, then rinsed with purified water. A bit of vinegar in water is also a great alternative to disinfect counters, bathrooms, and floors. Hydrogen peroxide and vinegar are natural, inexpensive products, and are available at local stores.

Other disinfection products available at specialty health food stores include grapefruit seed extract (GSE), and non-toxic soaps which dislodge dirt and wax in which microbes and residual pesticides usually reside. Paring and cooking vegetables, as well as avoiding high-risk foods, will also limit our exposure to microorganisms and keep us healthy.