![]() "Polymer barriers help protect the food and extend shelf life but recyclers consider them to be a contaminant in the recycling bin," according to the Association of Plastic Recyclers.Ī recent article from The New York Times backs that up. Bags, however, are often made of a plastic that contains additives meant to sustain the greens inside of them. Boxes are generally made from #1 polyethylene (also known as PET or PETE), which is an easily recycled material. But if you must pick between two lesser options, go with a box instead of a bag of pre-washed greens. If the environment is your top priority, stay away from plastic altogether ( unless you're planning to re-use a given container). Whole heads are the "greener" choice.Ĭlearly, whole heads of lettuce are the winner here. Coli, however, is nearly impossible to get off, whether in a massive facility or at the kitchen sink. And, what's more, it's not uncommon for produce-or anything that travels in bulk for that matter-to come in contact with another product that’s been contaminated as it moves from point A to point B to point C." Plus, salmonella and listeria can be washed off any greens at home if you're thorough enough (which means extracting any damaged pieces, running the leaves underneath cold water a few times, and drying well). "The problem typically starts in the field anyway. But the truth is, "an outbreak can happen from such a wide variety of things all along the supply chain," according to Food and Drug Administration spokesperson Peter Cassel. Pre-cut and pre-packaged lettuce gets handled more before it hits store shelves, which opens up more possible points of contamination. And while those leafy greens inside of packaging may look a lot cleaner, there's just as much of a chance they'll be tainted as their intact counterparts, even if they boast "triple-washed" on their label. Turns out that any lettuce-whole, bagged, or boxed-can be infected with diseases like salmonella, listeria, and E. Bagged and boxed lettuces aren't necessarily cleaner. When you want to make your own bagged salad for a little less money, a whole head is your best bet. At another grocery store, a head goes for $2.50 while a bag is anywhere from $3.50 to $4.00 and a box is anywhere from $3.99 to $4.49, depending on the brand. At a Whole Foods in NYC, for example, one head of Romaine costs $2.49 while a bag costs $2.69 (not a huge difference, but hey), and a box costs $4.49. Whole heads will generally get you more bang for your buck because you're not paying for the convenience of having the leaves washed and chopped for you. So, what's the best lettuce to buy? We prefer whole heads first because they're the cheapest, least processed, most eco-friendly, and potentially the healthiest. There is bagged lettuce and boxed lettuce, "triple-washed" lettuce, and whole heads with the root still intact, flecks of dirt visibly clinging to all the nooks and crannies. When you go to the grocery store and lettuce is on your list, you're faced with a multitude of options.
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