9. WASH WATER QUALITY

UMES EXTENSION

‡ MDH requires that you wash herbs with potable water. ‡ When washing only with water, use the water only for one batch of herbs. You can try a single pass method such as spraying herbs on a grate over a sink. Be sure the tools used for spraying freshly harvested herbs are food grade including the hose. ‡ When washing in a sink, a produce sanitizer is recommended to sanitize the wash water.

Using the same batch of water to wash multiple loads of herbs can lead to germs in one bunch of herbs spreading through the water and contaminating subsequent bunches. ‡ Quickly cooling freshly harvested herbs is an added benefit of rinsing or soaking the herbs in wash water. ‡ MDH will evaluate the washing requirements for herbs on a case by case basis.

READ 9A