Social media promotes washing fruit in vinegar, baking soda

Videos showing people washing fruit in vinegar, baking soda, or baking powder have spread across social media, but Denmark’s Food Administration advises sticking to water.

Influencers like Mia Aaes Deistler, who has 25,000 Instagram followers, have shared clips demonstrating how they soak strawberries and blueberries in water mixed with vinegar. She calls it a “mom hack” to reduce pesticide residues, though she acknowledges no method removes them entirely.

“The best way to minimize pesticide intake is to choose organic when possible,” Deistler told DR.

Another influencer, Tina Dehnfjeld (123,000 followers), uses a vinegar and baking soda mixture. She stresses her post is a suggestion, not a requirement.

The Food Administration has taken note of the trend but does not endorse it. “We have no documentation that it works, so we don’t recommend it,” said unit manager Henrik Dammand Nielsen. He emphasized that fruit with pesticide residues is safe to eat in Denmark, citing extensive monitoring showing no concerning levels.

While the agency does not discourage the practice—since vinegar, baking soda, and baking powder are not harmful—it officially recommends running water. “Water is an excellent rinse for removing dirt, bacteria, and some pesticides,” Nielsen said.

The administration has not studied whether the method is effective and sees no need to, as it does not consider the practice a risk. Nielsen added that tracking every household tip online is not a priority for the agency.