Chlorination of our Organic Produce???

[Colorawdo girl]

Well you all,am a little bummed about a very popular california grower who sells packaged salads and spinach and such in the stores all over.One I trusted and loved due to how dry it is and doesnt rot. (for some time now I buy local/organic).pssssst- its Earthbound Farms.
Saw a post here and it got me wondering.So I emailed and asked why they chlorine rinse their organic produce,as they state clearly that they do on their website.
I did not get an email answer,but today,I got six (free products) coupons and two coupons for a huge discount off their products.What was sooo funny was a letter saying that ever since they began 24 years ago,they "have maintained an unwavering commitment to producing the highest quality,freshest, safest and most delicious produce".They are pleased all the other farmers that have joined them in this.
I was wondering what they expect me to buy with the coupons?.The letter said that ,according to the organic rules,they can rinse their produce in lightly chlorinated water(to rid bacteria.) I imagine this might be due to that spinach scare.
The coupons are for ready made produce . I don't see anything they have thats not ready made.h-m-m-m-m--m-m.
Back to my local source for local/organic.yay! Just gotta do the best I can and thats all anybody can do.
This isnt my personal soap box yet thought you would find it of interest.

[adiebabe]

This is actually common. Baby carrots are also done in chlorinated water, again, to rid it of harmful bacteria. Apparently it's supposed to be only the ones that have been cut to resemble baby carrots ('Baby-Cut' Carrots)...they all seem to be that though or if they are actually baby carrots, they've been peeled and therefore, I'm assuming, treated the same.

[spicyfull]

Thanks for Sharing.

[Colorawdo girl]

Thats nice to know too..thanks alot.I am learning so much....

[qnjnean]

I read in the newspaper about 10 years ago that all bagged lettuce is washed in chlorinated water. I just buy heads, or the non bagged stuff.

[RawKnitster]

That is good to know. I sometimes buy their boxes of spinach at Costco. I bought their peeled baby carrots once. Since they gave me heartburn I knew something was wrong and started wondering, how do they peel those carrots?

All the produce I buy has to be washed in chlorinated water. Sadly, that is what comes out of my tap! I can't drink it without filtering because the chlorine smell is so strong.

[freshlight]

gosh, this is scary. I hope they don't do it here........perhaps they do?
How is it in the sw. pools? I know that in some countries it's forbidden to put chlorine in the water. How is it in the States?

[RawKnitster]

The municipalities have to kill pathogens in the surface water that is piped to our homes. I think these are the current maximum standards in the US for treating drinking water: Chlorine 4 ppm (parts per million), Chloramines 4 ppm , Chlorine dioxide 0.8 ppm There is plenty of info on the web about chlorine safety. This one is especially scary. I don't know anything about the reliability of this source. http://www.doulton.ca/chlorine.html

[Eva]

I hate to waste water. Nevertheless, I buy reverse osmosis water, which is the only water (other than real spring water) that I've ever gotten which tastes yummy and pure. Otherwise, it actually grosses me out!! :eek:

I did not realize that the organic spinach I get sometimes was washed in chlorinated water. That's interesting and not too cool. I don't know what happens with the spinach that is not boxed or bagged...

[Colorawdo girl]

I am looking into it to see exactly what they do...like how much they rinse it in..any amount is a bit too much to me and the fact they can still certify organic!!!

[Pistachios]

.... and the fact they can still certify organic!!!

One possible reason is that the certified organic label applies to the growing process (including the soil prior to planting the seed or seedling) up until harvest, but not beyond that

[pixie_333]

This is actually common. Baby carrots are also done in chlorinated water, again, to rid it of harmful bacteria. Apparently it's supposed to be only the ones that have been cut to resemble baby carrots ('Baby-Cut' Carrots)...they all seem to be that though or if they are actually baby carrots, they've been peeled and therefore, I'm assuming, treated the same.

lovely. they often have these in organic cheaper or same price as pesticide where i often shop (krogers)... and always..every single time i felt (intuition) something wasn't quite right. i guess this explains it?

[rain_or_shine]

hmmmm...you know i always hesitate when buying baby carrots cause every once in awhile i'd get a bag that tasted funny or that all the carrots were slimy and gross even though they seemed to still be fresh underneath all that slime.....i think i'll stay away from those now and buy regular unbagged carrots now

[Vindu85]

One thing to know about chlorine in your water. If you set it out for 24 hours all the chlorine will evaporate. I do that with a glass pitcher a buddy of mine gave me from coors lol. I wonder if the chlorine will evaporate off the spinach by the time you get it. The carrots that are pre-peeled will of course absorb the chlorine water. I suggest staying away from any prepared "fresh" veggies in the grocery store. And always rinse your produce even if it says pre-washed.

[Colorawdo girl]

I dont know. Leaves are so delicate,I cannot imagine it not permeating every fiber of its being...hahaha Seems silly to grow it from its babyhood on, all organic and get all grown and dip it in chlorine..put the Organic stamp of approval on it and off it goes to the consumer...eeeek.

[T-Bird]

The municipalities have to kill pathogens in the surface water that is piped to our homes. I think these are the current maximum standards in the US for treating drinking water: Chlorine 4 ppm (parts per million), Chloramines 4 ppm , Chlorine dioxide 0.8 ppm There is plenty of info on the web about chlorine safety. This one is especially scary. I don't know anything about the reliability of this source. http://www.doulton.ca/chlorine.html

Do we know what concentration of chlorine they rinse the veggies with?

Cuz if it's just tap water - that all I do to fresh lettuces!

[c'estlaviebelle]

It really doesn't surprise me that they do that. Most restaurants that you eat at also will wash their greens with a solution that is bleach or chlorine (about a tablespoon) to a few gallons water. It is very common in food processing to do this as if they are packaging or storing product for any length of time, and there is bacteria, it will quickly rot the food.

Unfortunately as consumers, the only real way to avoid this is to buy locally grown, which is probably next to impossible in some parts of the country year round. (I love in southern California, so I'm spoiled).

Just an FYI though, any time you are out to eat and order a salad, likely the greens have been washed in a bleach solution or chlorine solution. We use an all natural fruit/veggie wash at the restaurant I work at, but others tend to use bleach because it is cheaper.