Eww! Fecal Bacteria Found in Bagged Salads

A new study by Consumer Reports of the bagged salad greens that we all love for their convenience yielded some pretty disturbing results. In their tests of over 200 store-bought bags — including Dole, Earthbound Farm Organic, and Fresh Express brands — many contained bacteria indicated poor sanitation and fecal contamination.

The Food and Drug Administration regulates the levels of these bacteria in water, raw meat, and milk, but they do not regulate their levels in produce.

So how can you protect yourself? The best way is not to buy bagged lettuce since no method is fool-proof, but Consumer Reports does offer these tips:

1. Buy packages as far from their use-by date as you can find.
2. Even if the bag says “prewashed” or “triple-washed,” wash the greens yourself; rinsing won’t remove all bacteria but may remove residual soil.
3. Prevent cross contamination by keeping greens away from raw meat.

The good news? Consumer Reports did NOT find any deadly bacterias in their study — like salmonella or E.Coli. Phew?