Should I Be Washing My Bagged Lettuce Or Not?

There’s an ongoing debate in our household about whether we should be washing bagged lettuce or not. From my perspective, I’m a washer. Any fruit and veg, I’m washing it – that includes bagged salad leaves. This is despite the fact it says it’s already been washed on the packet.My other half, in contrast, will just bung it on a sandwich or in a bowl, straight from the bag. Recently, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued a news alert saying Shiga Toxin producing E.coli (STEC) infections rose by 26% in England last year.The increase was partly driven by an outbreak linked to contaminated salad leaves, which caused 196 cases in England.It got me thinking about lettuce (again) – especially given the string of outbreaks linked to romaine lettuce in the US last year, too.And it left me with four questions (I’m sure I’m not the only one), so I’ve set out to answer them below...First of all, what symptoms does this particular E.coli infection cause?We’ve had our fair share of tummy bugs in our household, so I was interested in what the signs are that you’ve been exposed to Shiga Toxin producing E.coli.STEC are bacteria that can cause gastroenteritis. Symptoms can include:mild to bloody diarrhoea,stomach cramps,vomiting,dehydration.In severe cases, the bacteria can cause something called haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) – a serious, life-threatening condition that mainly affects the kidneys. How do you catch it?STEC bacteria are spread through contact with animals or their faeces, consuming contaminated food or water, and from person to person. The UKHSA’s Dr Gauri Godbole said while last year’s rise in cases was partly due to one foodborne outbreak – which revolved around some shop-bought sandwiches containing lettuce – “we have been seeing STEC cases gradually increase since 2022 and therefore it’s important for people to take steps to prevent infection”.Young kids (ages one to four) in particular have been affected by this bacteria in the past year, which the health body suggested could be for a mixture of reasons.These include lower immunity levels, less hand-washing, and potential exposure via animals at petting farms. What is the risk of consuming E.coli in shop-bought lettuce? If you pick up a lettuce from UK vegetable aisles, what are the chances of it containing E.coli? Admittedly, pretty low.The UK food industry has implemented strict controls to reduce the hazards and risks associated with fresh produce.However, if a crop of lettuce does end up contaminated with E.coli, experts have said washing it is “largely ineffective” at removing the bacteria – and because lettuce isn’t cooked, “risk of infection to consumers is high”.Studies back this up, too.Wait, so washing wouldn’t get rid of E.coli?That’s correct. A Food Standards Agency (FSA) document even says: “It is widely recognised that washing cannot guarantee the removal of microbial contamination from produce.”That said, it could reduce the amount of bacteria present – which could lessen your chance of illness.The key focus is on the food industry to prevent the produce from becoming contaminated in the first place.All of that said, washing is good for removing dirt, any bugs that might’ve stowed away on your veg, and some pesticide residue. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) does generally advise washing fruit and vegetables, including salad leaves, that will be eaten raw or before cooking.“You should wash them under a running tap, or in a bowl of fresh water, making sure to rub their skin under the water,” it said.As for bagged salad... it’s up to you whether you wash it. At the start of the 2000s, it was recommended people washed ‘pre-washed’ salad leaves before consuming them (perhaps that’s why I’m such a stickler for it). HuffPost UK understands the FSA’s position nowadays is that pre-washed and ready to eat (RTE) salads should not need to be washed again before eating – although obviously you should check the packaging for peace of mind.A more recent report recommended that “in the unlikely event that bacteria are present on a ready to eat lettuce/leafy green salad after commercial washing, they are likely to resist removal or inactivation by further washing”.The same report added “additional washing treatments are not likely to enhance the safety of ready to eat /leafy green salads”. That said, Redditors have opened up about finding creepy crawlies in their salad bags – we’re talking maggots, snails, etc., – so I think I’ll stick to my rinsing routine. Related...The Washing Machine Temperature A Doctor 'Doesn't See The Point In'UK Gardeners Urged To Place A Washing-Up Bowl In Their Lawn ASAPIs Food Cooked On Its Use-By Date Safe To Eat The Next Day?

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