What's Lurking In Your Bagged Salad? Gag Me A With A Tadpole
The next time you peruse the bagged lettuce aisle in search of convenience, you may want to keep wandering towards the out-of the ground varieties. While the boom of 'triple-washed' bagged salads helped yield the industry some serious green -upwards of $2.6 Billion - what's lurking inside may surprise you. Look closely. For some adventurists who may think the image above is a French nouvelle take on the gourmet salad craze - you know, a Frog Legs and Baby Lettuce concoction - bon appetit. But for most of us who are looking to achieve somewhere near 5-10 a day without a trace of tadpole, you definitely got more than you could stomach.
This may be the exception to the rule but recall, it was less than three years ago that the U.S. reeled from a frightening outbreak of E.coli from contaminated bagged spinach, leading to one death and hundreds of illness, some hospitalized. There are many factors that have been cited as contributing to the problem - from farming practices using tainted animal manure to improper food handling. However, all of the issues surrounding that particular outbreak were linked to only the bagged type - not the unpackaged greens. Scientists know that Salmonella and E. coli O157 can cause serious sickness in humans and can spread to produce, especially leafy greens, if they are fertilized with contaminated manure, irrigated with contaminated water, or if they come into contact with fecal matter during the cutting, washing, packing and preparation processes. Potent pathogens have the ability to fester in a sealed environment, such as a plastic bag. If not handled or dried properly, microorganisms can get out of control.
Now, before you get totally turned off of the idea of eating another salad again, know the benefits greatly outweigh the potential risks. Fruit and vegetables are the basis of a healthy diet and with a dose of safe food handling knowledge, you can take matters into your own hands. Pick up a plethora of unwashed varieties - from butter lettuce to arugula, romaine to radicchio - and save yourself some serious green ($3.50 for average bagged salad vs. $1.60 for head lettuce) while getting your food