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Packaged salad kits are convenient. But at what cost?
And I don’t mean the price tag. Though it usually does cost more for things that are already made.
No.
In this case, safety is the potential cost.
Manufacturers know that people like convenience. Packaged salad kits provide that convenience.
No need to cut up vegetables, shred or chop lettuce, or acquire the extras. Insert tortilla strips, candied nuts, croutons, etc. here. Perfect for a single meal without the fuss of purchasing extra ingredients that may or may not sit unused until the next time a salad strikes your fancy.
Plus, there is the variety.
You can have a classic Caesar one day followed by a dried fruit and nut spinach salad the next. All taking up minimal space in the refrigerator.
Not to mention the time saved in prep.
Open a few bags, pour into a bowl, and toss. Voila! Dinner is served!
But packaged salad kits have been in the news quite a bit recently.
Over the past few years, packaged salads and packaged salad kits have come up in several U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) outbreak investigations.
Recent Bagged Lettuce or Packaged Salad Kit Outbreaks
These are just the ones that made it to the FDA’s radar because it affected multiple states. Many other recalls have been prompted by a handful of illnesses or routine testing revealing the presence of a pathogen in this vulnerable product.
What is it about packaged salad kits that make them more risky than other fresh leafy greens?
All leafy greens have a level of risk, simply due to the nature of the product as well as how it is grown and handled. However, despite these products undergoing pre-washing processes, packaged salad kits bring additional risk factors to the table. Additional factors include increased handling, the actual packaging environment, and more.
Unlike many fresh vegetables, leafy greens can pull pathogens into themselves. No amount of washing can remove germs living inside the plant.
Contaminated irrigation water or grossly contaminated soil are the most common sources of leafy green and bagged salad contamination.
Unlike their whole counterparts, packaged salad kits require additional manufacturing steps. Every time a product is handled, whether by human or machine, opportunities for contamination occur. On a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) plan, food manufacturers must anticipate where things can go wrong at each of these steps.
Unfortunately, despite control measures, lapses occur. Contamination may be introduced. People get sick.
Additionally, package environments can create an ecosystem prime for bacterial reproduction. Closed, moist environments are the perfect breeding ground for these bad bugs.
Additional condensation can occur during transport from the crisp(ish) produce display to your cart, your car, and then home refrigerator. These temperature variables not only leave food in the “danger zone” (between 40° F and 140° F) where pathogens can rapidly grow to infectious numbers, but also perpetuate the moist environment inside the bag.
Several pathogens are common contaminants found in packaged salad kits. E. coli, norovirus, Salmonella, Listeria, Salmonella, and Cyclospora to name a few.
Escherichia coli, better known as E. coli often comes from contaminated soil or water where the lettuce grows. This bacterium is most known for causing stomach cramps and diarrhea.
Norovirus is spread by people who have the virus or by irrigation water contaminated with feces containing the germ. This virus is known for causing vomiting and diarrheal symptoms.
Salmonella is often found in the environment and the feces of animals. This bacterium is known for causing fever, diarrhea, and stomach pain.
Listeria loves cold environments. Unlike many pathogens, refrigerated temperatures do not slow them down. This bacterium causes flu-like symptoms and serious consequences for people who are pregnant. Including pregnancy loss, premature birth, still birth, and life-threatening illness of the newborn.
Cyclospora is a type of parasite that can be found on fresh vegetables. This harmful germ causes serious gastrointestinal illness.
Taking a few simple steps can help reduce your risk of becoming sick from packaged salad kits.
Precautions taken at the grocery store can reduce your risk of purchasing packaged salad kits that may make you sick.
Once your packaged salad kit is at home, your work is not done. A few more precautions can help reduce your risk of consuming packaged salad kits that may make you sick.
After reading all of the things that can go wrong with packaged salad kits, you may be wondering if you should steer clear of them.
For those who are more vulnerable to foodborne illness or severe symptoms, this may be your best bet. However, most people can consume this convenience food with the above-mentioned precautions.
If you have become sick after eating packaged salad kits and wish to make a legal claim, The Lange Law Firm, PLLC has a food poisoning lawyer that can help.
Call (833) 330-3663 or fill out the online submission form for a free, no obligation consultation to go over the details of your situation.
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)
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