Sometimes, convenience isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Pre-washed bagged lettuce, for example, can be a vehicle for the spread of bacteria and contamination. According to food safety experts, bagged lettuce is one of the riskiest items at the grocery store. Darin Detwiler, Professor of Food Policy at Northwestern University, pointed out that when you look at past outbreaks, bagged salads have been a leading cause of foodborne illness. They are generally washed and processed in large batches, which leaves them highly susceptible to pathogens like E.coli, listeria, and salmonella. Irrigated water, wild or domesticated animals, soil, and air can all contaminate leafy greens on the farm. When it’s time to harvest, human contact and equipment also present a risk. While convenient for companies, it makes tracing the origins of contamination complex. All it takes is a single contaminated batch to impact thousands of bags across numerous states. Suggestions for safety include checking the FDA and CDC websites for recalls, making sure the greens aren’t expired, and avoiding bags with condensation. Leafy greens should be fresh, not moist. Lastly, experts recommend buying heads of lettuce over pre-cut greens because they have less surface area for bacteria to contaminate. It’s less convenient, but a lot safer.
