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Posted on Thu, Feb 4, 2010 : 4 p.m.

Pre-washed and packaged salad tests positive for bacteria

By Tina Reed

lettuce.jpg

Next time you make a salad at home, you might want to give those greens an extra rinse.

Despite salad greens being labeled "pre-washed," Consumer Reports found elevated levels of bacteria and is suggesting it's probably best for consumers to give their greens another wash before consuming.

Taking a look at a small sample of greens, the publication found bacteria which indicate "poor sanitation and fecal contamination."

The testing did not find E. coli, listeria or salmonella. The publication said it did not expect to find those sort of contaminants.

The tests were performed last fall at an outside lab and received financial support from the Pew Health Group.

Tina Reed covers health and the environment for AnnArbor.com. You can reach her at tinareed@annarbor.com, call her at 734-623-2535 or find her on Twitter @TreedinAA.

Comments

Jenn Cornell

Fri, Feb 5, 2010 : 4:32 p.m.

Yuck! I'm so guilty of just emptying the salad mix into my bowl vs. washing it first. Thanks for the reminder that pre-washed doesn't necessarily mean it's washed clean.