The freshest produce can be hidden
According to Nicolette Pace, chef, dietitian, and nutritionist, if you want to buy fresh produce, always look in the back of the shelves.
“Newer expiration dates are placed in the back of shelves, so if you need a longer shelf life, check the back of the shelf,” Pace says.
Health policies are unclear
According to The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ready-to-eat food must be handled by employees carefully and only with protective equipment (gloves). However, those rules are quite vague, as fruits might not be considered consumable.
“FDA recommends that employees wear clean clothes and any additional outer items (e.g., hairnets and beard covers, lab coats, aprons, and appropriate footwear) that will help protect fresh and fresh-cut produce from inadvertent contamination during processing.”
Bananas are chemically ripened
Bananas are usually picked unripe and green, so most of the time they’re chemically ripened. According to NPR, the ripening process starts just before the bananas are set out for customers.
