Q: When field mice eat the top tips of sweet potatoes (while still in the soil), are the tubers safe for home consumption?
A:Β While the practical me says just wash it off really well, I checked with our food safety microbiologist, and she says no way. The chewed part may not be the only part of the plant that the rodent touched. The problem is that the rodent may have touched its own feces or other rodent feces and if that gets anywhere on the produce, and it is not washed properly (with an actual sanitizer), it could harbor foodborne pathogens. My advice would be to put those veggies in the compost pile.
Peter L. Warren is the urban horticulture agent for the Pima County Cooperative Extension and the University of Arizona. Questions may be emailed toΒ tucsongardensage@gmail.com
