Packaged Lettuce

[Sillybloss]

Hi Friends,

I just got some information from an email newsletter that disturbed me. Here it is:

* bagged salads made from lettuce and other green leaves are washed
in chlorine :eek: , dried, sorted and packaged in plastic bags with
modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) where low levels of oxygen and
high levels of carbon dioxide keep it looking fresh for up to ten
days or even a month but destroy vital nutrients (see research
below).

Bagged salads

Bagged salads are convenient but not nutritious :confused: . Researchers tested
blood samples of healthy volunteers after eating fresh lettuce and
the same lettuce after three days in MAP (modified atmosphere
packaging) storage. Plasma levels of healthful antioxidants such as
Vitamin C and beta-carotene rose significantly after ingestion of
fresh lettuce but there was no change after eating MAP stored
lettuce. Serafini M and others, Effect of acute ingestion of fresh
and stored lettuce (Lactuca sativa) on plasma total antioxidant
capacity and antioxidant levels in human subjects, Br J Nutr. 2002;88
(6):615-23.

I love bagged lettuces because I can get a great variety ie: arugula, spinach, baby romaine, herb lettuces, etc. I buy a lot of mine at Trader Joe's (always buy the Organic ones), but have also bought other Organic brands.

Does anyone know about the processing of these bagged salads? Are they not nutritious? My local raw food teacher actually recommended these. Any thoughts or information would be appreciated!!!

[Revvell]

That's interesting. I use to purchase mine from TJ's ~ for quite some time, actually. Then started getting it fresh from the farmers' markets. One time I was out and purchased the bagged ones ~ couldn't stomach them. Guess that's why then.

I've never had any of the organics last up to a month though...10 days, maybe.

R.

[Kris]

I don't think this is true for certified organic produce, as the NOSB does have regulations governing the amount of chlorine that may contact the produce during processing.

Click here for more info! (http://www.newfarm.org/certification/0903/answers.shtml)

Edited to add: I'm talking about the chlorine wash here. I think organic bagged produce is also bagged using MAP.

[Autumn]

I'm sorry I don't know about the nutrition value, but I always thought the bagged salads tasted funny. I bought them 2x, years ago when they first came out and didn't finish even 1/2 of either bag. To me they never tasted especially fresh.

[NoGMO!]

is that true for Organic Earthbound Farms packaged greens? wouldn't that make it non-organic?

[eachpeachpearplum]

Interesting you sould mention this as I am planning to open a business that uses a lot of MAP. MAP is a process that is WIDLEY used in the UK & Europe.

I must admit I was always under the impression it maintained the vitamines & minerals of the NOT harmed them or made the food detrimental to the consumer.

I am very curious & concerned and will look into it. I cannot promise it will be right away - as the maufacturer (of the MAP machine) is hardly going to say so up front - but I will do when I get the info. . . hmm. . .very interesting.

:rolleyes: :o

[Punky]

Very interesting.
I hope we can find out the truth about this.
I use bagged and boxed ORGANIC lettuce too sometimes.
what a bummer if it is true.

back to my salad spinner (which I love btw).
Actually when I wash lettuce in my spinner and leave
it in the frig it lasts longer too, like the bagged stuff.
I just figured it was because it was sealed real good from air getting in.

[rawpriestess]

I've only tasted bagged lettuce a couple of times, and didn't care for them, they just tasted "funny" this may be why.

So, I always buy greens and lettuce in the head, and add my own stuff.

Good to know, thanks for sharing this valuable information.

[Sillybloss]

Me, again! For those who are interested, the information came from an e-newsletter I just subscribed to called Failsafe. Here's the intro so you can see:

FAILSAFE #46
Newsletter of the Food Intolerance Network
October – December 2005

The Food Intolerance Network supports people worldwide using a low-
chemical elimination diet free of additives, low in salicylates,
amines and flavour enhancers (FAILSAFE) for health, behaviour and
learning problems.

To see this FAILSAFE Newsletter in colour on the web:
http://fedupwithfoodadditives.info/newsletters/FAILsaf46.htm


I subscribed to this because I have to keep my daughter clear of any of these chemicals as it affects her behavior. This newsletter IS based out of Australia. Perhaps their methods vary from ours, but I'd kind of be surprised if they did!

I do believe that the organic brands of lettuce would NOT be washed with excessive chlorine, but do we really know for sure. And I don't know if I feel comfortable with this weird air they're putting in there, either.

Thanks for your comments and keep me posted should anyone find out more information. Thanks!