Another produce outbreak makes the news, and suddenly that container of blueberries or bag of lettuce does not look quite as inviting.

It is understandable to feel nervous. Nobody wants to bring home a food that could make them or their family sick. At the same time, fruits and vegetables remain an important source of nutrients—and avoiding produce completely is not the only option.

In Episode 109 of Nourish to Flourish, Megan the Trainer RD shares practical ways to continue eating well when produce recalls or parasite outbreaks affect some of the fresh foods you normally buy.

Do You Need to Stop Eating Fruits and Vegetables?

A temporary produce outbreak does not mean that every fruit and vegetable is unsafe. However, it may be a good time to change the form of produce you purchase or temporarily avoid an affected item.

Instead of giving up on fruits and vegetables altogether, Megan recommends leaning into other options, including:

• Frozen fruits and vegetables
• Canned fruits and vegetables
• Locally grown produce
• Foods grown at home
• Produce that will be thoroughly cooked

Healthy eating does not have to look exactly the same every week. Sometimes making a temporary adjustment is the most practical way to continue nourishing your body while reducing unnecessary risk.

Are Frozen Vegetables a Healthy Alternative?

Frozen fruits and vegetables can be an excellent option during a produce recall or outbreak.

Many frozen vegetables are going to be cooked before they are eaten. As Megan explains in the episode, cooking foods at a high temperature can be helpful when dealing with unwanted bugs or contaminants.

Frozen produce is also convenient, lasts longer than many fresh foods, and can make it easier to add vegetables to soups, casseroles, stir-fries, and other meals.

Choosing frozen produce does not mean you are settling for an inferior option. It can simply be another practical way to get more fruits and vegetables into your diet.

Can Canned Fruits and Vegetables Be Healthy?

Canned foods sometimes receive a bad reputation because certain products contain additional sodium or sugar. However, there are plenty of alternatives available.

When shopping for canned fruits or vegetables, look for options labeled:

• Low sodium
• No salt added
• Low sugar
• No sugar added
• Packed in water or natural juice

Canned produce can be affordable, accessible, and easy to keep on hand. During a temporary produce recall, it may be one of the simplest ways to continue building balanced meals.

We do not need to be afraid of frozen or canned foods—especially when the change is only temporary.

Why Buying Local Produce May Help

Megan also encourages shoppers to get as close to the original source of their food as possible.

She is not talking about physically getting closer to your lettuce. She is referring to shortening the distance between where food is grown and where it is eaten.

Produce may pass through several hands and locations before reaching your plate. It may be picked, washed, packaged, transported, moved, and stored multiple times. Each of those steps creates another touchpoint.

Buying from a local farmer, farmers market, community-supported agriculture program, or nearby producer may reduce the number of touchpoints between the dirt and your dinner table.

Growing a few foods at home can also be an option. Depending on your available space, you might grow herbs or vegetables:

• In a backyard garden
• On a porch or patio
• In containers
• Near a sunny window

Buying local or growing food at home does not completely eliminate the risk of foodborne illness. It may, however, reduce some of the handling and transportation involved before the food reaches you.

What Is the Best Way to Wash Fresh Produce?

Fresh produce should still be rinsed when you bring it home.

Megan recommends placing fruits or vegetables in a colander and rinsing them under running water. Tossing or moving the produce around while rinsing can help remove visible dirt and physical debris.

You do not need to wash produce with soap.

Some people also choose to give produce a short baking soda soak or vinegar soak. Megan reminds viewers not to mix baking soda and vinegar together unless they are hoping to recreate a middle-school science experiment.

Rinsing produce can help remove debris and may reduce exposure to unwanted residue, pesticides, parasites, and other “yucky bugs.”

Should You Wash Prepackaged Produce?

The episode emphasizes that produce should generally be washed before eating. Always check the package instructions and pay attention to recall notices involving a specific product.

Washing is one part of produce safety, but it does not replace following an official recall. When a specific food has been identified as affected, the safest temporary choice may be to avoid that product and select a frozen, canned, cooked, or alternative fresh option.

Healthy Eating Requires Flexibility

One food recall does not need to derail your nutrition habits.

When a fresh item is temporarily unavailable or affected by an outbreak, put a pin in it. Choose another source of nutrients for now, and return to your salads, berries, and other favorite fresh foods when the situation has passed.

Good nutrition is not about eating every food in its freshest possible form at every meal. It is about making informed, practical choices that help you care for your health consistently.

Watch Nourish to Flourish Episode 109

Watch the full episode above to hear Megan explain:

• How to continue eating produce during an outbreak
• Why frozen vegetables can be a smart alternative
• How to find lower-sodium and lower-sugar canned foods
• Why local produce may have fewer touchpoints
• How to rinse fruits and vegetables at home
• Why temporary recalls do not need to create long-term fear around food

Now that you know better, let’s go out and do better—so we can all be better.