Thousands of Brits risk infection from simple fruit and veg mistake

Neglecting a vital step in the kitchen may significantly heighten your risk of contracting a severe bacterial infection. Specialists caution that around 17% of people in the UK neglect to rinse their leafy greens prior to consuming them.

And although some suppliers do clean their produce before packaging, this isn't invariably the case. As a consequence, there is an elevated probability of raw fruits and vegetables harbouring perilous germs such as listeria, salmonella, and E.coli on their surface, which can result in extreme illness and, in exceptional instances death.

The Foods Standard Agency underscores that pathogens on food are imperceptible to the unaided eye, rendering it unfeasible to ascertain the safety of a food item solely by appearance. Dr Deborah Lee, a UK-based general pr