Fruit and Vegetable Washing Practices: Estimates from the 2006 FDA/FSIS Food Safety Survey

E9V1. Do you ever buy bagged, precut lettuce? [IF NECESSARY: WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BAGGED SALAD] (n=2275)

71% [YES] 
28% [NO] 
  * [DON'T KNOW] 
  * [REFUSED] 
E10V1. [IF E9V1=1]

Do you usually wash or rinse bagged, precut lettuce before you eat it? (n=1613)

49% [YES] 
46% [NO] 
 5% [IT DEPENDS (IE. PRODUCT TYPE, HOW IT LOOKS, HOW IT SMELLS)] 
  * [DON'T KNOW] 
  * [REFUSED] 
E10V1a.

Of all the bags of precut lettuce available at the store, about how many of them contain lettuce that has already been washed?  Would you say . . . (n=1613)

35% All of them 
24% Most of them 
24% Only some of them, 
 7% None of them 
 9% [DON'T KNOW] 
  * [REFUSED] 
E11V1.

Do you ever buy tomatoes? (n=2275)

87% [YES] 
13% [NO] 
  * [DON'T KNOW] 
  * [REFUSED] 
E12V1. TR01 [IFE11V1=1]

Do you usually wash or rinse tomatoes before you prepare or eat them?( n=2029)

97% [YES] 
 3% [NO] 
  * [DON'T KNOW] 
  * [REFUSED] 
E13V1. [IF E12V1=1]

What methods do you use to wash or rinse tomatoes? Please choose one or more. Do you . . . [ACCEPT MULTIPLES; NOTE: IF SAY THEY USE A COLANDER, "Using your colander, do you (READ THE ANSWERS AGAIN)] (n=1965)

E13V1_1. Rub them under running water, with a brush, cloth or your hands

75% [VALID] 
25% [MISSING] 
E13V1_2. Hold under running water, without rubbing them, or

20% [VALID] 
80% [MISSING] 
E13V1_3. Soak them in a container of water, or do you

 3% [VALID] 
97% [MISSING] 
E13V1_4. Use any type of cleaner to wash tomatoes?

 7% [VALID] 
93% [MISSING] 
E13V1_5. [DON'T KNOW]

   * [VALID] 
100% [MISSING] 
E13V1_6. [REFUSED]

   * [VALID] 
100% [MISSING] 

E13V1A. [IF E13V1_4 =1]

What type of cleaner do you use? [CHECK ANY MENTION OF THE FOLLOWING. ACCEPT MULTIPLES] (n=153)

E13V1a1. [OTHER -HAND SOAP]

10% [VALID] 
91% [MISSING] 
E13V1a2. [OTHER--DISH SOAP]

34% [VALID] 
66% [MISSING] 
E13V1a3. [OTHER--VINEGAR]

 3% [VALID] 
97% [MISSING] 
E13V1a4. [OTHER--CLOROX]

 5% [VALID] 
95% [MISSING] 
E13V1a5. [OTHER--PRODUCE CLEANER]

20% [VALID] 
80% [MISSING] 
E13V1a6. [OTHER--OTHER]

32% [VALID] 
68% [MISSING] 
E13V1a7. [OTHER--DON'T KNOW]

 2% [VALID] 
98% [MISSING] 
E13V1a8. [OTHER - REFUSED]

   * [VALID] 
100% [MISSING] 

E14V2.

Do you ever buy cantaloupe? (n=2264)

74% [YES] 
26% [NO] 
  * [DON'T KNOW] 
  * [REFUSED] 
E15V2. TR01 [IF E14V2=1]

Do you usually wash or rinse cantaloupe before you prepare or cut it? (n=1806)

57% [YES] 
42% [NO] 
 1% [DON'T KNOW] 
  * [REFUSED] 
E16V2. [IFE15V2=1]

Do you use any of these methods to wash or rinse cantaloupe?  Please choose one or more. Do you . . . 
[ACCEPT MULTIPLES] (n=1013)

E16V2_1. Rub them under running water, with a brush, cloth or your hands

72% [VALID] 
28% [MISSING] 
E16V2_2. Hold under running water, without rubbing them, or

21% [VALID] 
79% [MISSING] 
E16V2_3. Soak them in a container of water, or do you

 3% [VALID] 
97% [MISSING] 
E16V2_4. Use any type of cleaner to wash tomatoes? 

 7% [VALID] 
93% [MISSING] 
E16V2_5. [DON'T KNOW]

   * [VALID] 
100% [MISSING] 
E16V2_6. [REFUSED]

   * [VALID] 
100% [MISSING] 

E16V2E. [IFE16V2_4=1]

What type of cleaner do you use? [CHECK ANY MENTION OF THE FOLLOWING. ACCEPT MULTIPLES] (n=86)

E16V2a1. [OTHER - HAND SOAP]

 2% [VALID] 
98% [MISSING] 
E16V2a2. [OTHER--DISH SOAP]

44% [VALID] 
56% [MISSING] 
E16V2a3. [OTHER--VINEGAR]

 9% [VALID] 
91% [MISSING] 
E16V2a4. [OTHER--CLOROX]

 3% [VALID] 
97% [MISSING] 
E16V2a5. [OTHER--PRODUCE CLEANER]

27% [VALID] 
73% [MISSING] 
E16V2a6. [OTHER--OTHER]

19% [VALID] 
81% [MISSING] 
E16V2a7. [OTHER--DON'T KNOW]

   * [VALID] 
100% [MISSING] 
E16V2a8. [OTHER - REFUSED]

   * [VALID] 
100% [MISSING] 

E17V2.

Do you ever buy strawberries? (n=2264)

86% [YES] 
13% [NO] 
  * [DON'T KNOW] 
  * [REFUSED] 
E18V2. TR01 [IF E17V2=1]

Do you usually wash or rinse strawberries before you prepare or eat them? (n=2001)

97% [YES] 
 2% [NO] 
  * [NEVER PREPARE STRAWBERRIES] 
  * [DON'T KNOW] 
  * [REFUSED] 
E19V2. [IF E18V2=1]

Do you use any of these methods to wash or rinse strawberries?  Please choose one or more. Do you . . . [ACCEPT MULTIPLES; NOTE: IF SAY THEY USE A COLANDER, "Using your colander, do you -- READ THE ANSWERS AGAIN] (n=1957)

E19V2_1. Rub them under running water, with a brush, cloth or your hands

46% [VALID] 
54% [MISSING] 
E19V2_2. Hold under running water, without rubbing them, or

43% [VALID] 
57% [MISSING] 
E19V2_3. Soak them in a container of water, or do you

16% [VALID] 
84% [MISSING] 
E19V2_4. Use any type of cleaner to wash tomatoes? 

 4% [VALID] 
96% [MISSING] 
E19V2_5. [DON'T KNOW]

   * [VALID] 
100% [MISSING] 
E19V2_6. [REFUSED]

   * [VALID] 
100% [MISSING] 

E19V2A. [IF E19V2_4=1]

What type of cleaner do you use? [CHECK ANY MENTION OF THE FOLLOWING. ACCEPT MULTIPLES] (n=87)

E19V2a1. [OTHER - HAND SOAP]

 3% [VALID] 
97% [MISSING] 
E19V2a2. [OTHER--DISH SOAP]

18% [VALID] 
82% [MISSING] 
E19V2a3. [OTHER--VINEGAR]

 9% [VALID] 
91% [MISSING] 
E19V2a4. [OTHER--CLOROX]

 2% [VALID] 
98% [MISSING] 
E19V2a5. [OTHER--PRODUCE CLEANER]

39% [VALID] 
62% [MISSING] 
E19V2a6. [OTHER--OTHER]

29% [VALID] 
71% [MISSING] 
E19V2a7. [OTHER--DON'T KNOW]

 1% [VALID] 
99% [MISSING] 
E19V2a8. [OTHER - REFUSED]

   * [VALID] 
100% [MISSING]