Is The Mist Sprayed On Grocery Store Produce Really Just Water?

When you stroll through the produce section and see the mist spray on fruits and vegetables, you may wonder: Is it really just water? Surprisingly, the answer is a little more complex. Most grocery stores use filtered or treated water rather than plain tap water. The water is treated with food-safe washes to help inhibit bacteria growth and keep produce looking vibrant. The purpose of misting isn't only to make the produce look fresh — it actually helps maintain its moisture levels. Produce, especially leafy greens and delicate vegetables, can wilt quickly when exposed to dry air in stores. By adding humidity, the mist preserves texture and delays spoilage, extending the product's shelf life.

However, the misting can sometimes be misleading. While it improves appearances and keeps the outer layers hydrated, it doesn't guarantee overall freshness. Some produce may look crisp on the outside, but could be past its prime inside. The best time of the day to buy produce is usually in the morning, when deliveries are typically stocked. By midday or evening, produce that's been sitting out may begin to lose its peak freshness, even if it appears vibrant due to the misting. Additionally, when you buy produce, you often pay by its weight, so heavier produce costs more. Spraying and saturating veggies with water increases their weight and thus their price, boosting grocery store sales.

The best chain grocery stores use and maintain high-quality misting systems, and carefully rotate stock to ensure freshness. However, a red flag in a bad grocery store is produce that appears excessively wet or limp, suggesting it's been misted too often without proper rotation. This insight helps you be a smarter shopper and understand that misting can be beneficial, but that isn't the whole story when it comes to produce quality.

Even if grocery store produce looks fresh and dewy under the mist, washing it at home is essential. The mist serves primarily to retain moisture, but does not sanitize the produce. Dirt, bacteria, and pesticide residues can remain on the surface of fruits and vegetables even after they're misted. To ensure food safety, wash your produce under cold running water before eating it. For items like leafy greens and root vegetables, which can harbor bacteria in crevices, a thorough rinse is especially important.

Using a produce brush on sturdy items, like cucumbers and potatoes, can help remove additional contaminants. Use a sturdy yet flexible one, like Full Circle's bamboo vegetable scrubber, that's versatile and can be used to clean a variety of produce items. Some people also opt to use a vinegar rinse or produce-specific wash, such as Earth Friendly Products' fruit and veggie wash, for added cleaning power. 

Regardless of how fresh produce may look in-store, misting alone doesn't ensure cleanliness, so washing it remains a must to reduce risks of foodborne illnesses. To get the best quality produce, remember to shop in the early morning when fresh items are stocked and avoid overly misted items. And to keep them fresh for longer, make sure to store vegetables properly in your fridge.