Parents love the convenience offered by bagged salads. Prepackaged leafy greens and vegetables provide a quick and easy alternative to making a salad the old-fashioned way. However, I became concerned when I read a recent report published on ConsumerReports.org. The title of the article, “Bagged Salads: How Clean?” says it all. Published in the March 2010 issue of Consumer Reports Magazine, the study examined bagged salads purchased in Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey. These salads were tested for bacteria and other contaminants. 208 samples of 16 different brands were tested. No Salmonella or E. coli bacteria were found. What was found were higher than acceptable levels of both coliforms and enterococcus. Higher levels often appeared in bags of spinach. High levels were also usually detected when the bags were nearing expiration. According to the articles, both of these organisms can indicate the presence of “poor sanitation and fecal contamination.”
Richard J. Arsenault, 2010
