Q. Do we need to soak all vegetables and fruits before eating them? Will washing them quickly under the tap get rid of pesticides?

Also, is it true that there will be a loss of vitamins if we do not eat a fruit as soon as it is cut?

A. In general, it is a good practice to wash fresh fruits and vegetables before eating them.

Washing fruits removes dirt, as well as some pesticides, on the surface and stem.

There is no need to soak the fruit; just rinse it before preparing it and eating it.

As for vegetables, a combination of soaking and rinsing will remove both dirt and pesticides.

The website of the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA), www.ava.gov.sg, has a section on food safety education which gives details on the proper way to clean foods. You should give vegetables a quick rinse first followed by a 15-minute soak and a final rinse to remove dirt and pesticide residue effectively.

Most fruits and vegetables sold in Singapore are imported.

AVA has measures in place to ensure that imported and locally produced vegetables and fruits meet the pesticide safety standards.

If you are still worried about the amount of pesticides on fresh fruits and vegetables, consider buying those grown organically.

Vitamins, like vitamin C, can be lost when the cut fruits and vegetables are exposed to air or light.

Water-soluble vitamins are lost when the greens are cut into smaller pieces and soaked in water.

It is best to eat the fruit as soon as it is cut. For vegetables, do not soak them too long and cut them only after they are soaked.

Natalie Goh is a dietitian with the Alliance Healthcare Group.

This article was first published in Mind Your Body, The Straits Times on July 23, 2008.