How Safe Is It to Eat<br />Bagged Salad Greens? It’s normal to assume that uncut greens are a<br />healthier options than the packed, pre-cut kind. Packaged greens can seem slimy or like they’ve<br />lost their nutrients, but they’re actually just as<br />good an option as uncut greens, if not better. In most cases, bagged salad is washed three<br />times before packaging, with one of the washes<br />involving sanitizing chemicals for an extra clean. The chemicals used, such as diluted chlorine,<br />are FDA-approved and the best proven defense<br />against pathogens such as E. Coli and salmonella. Because the greens are stored in an airtight bag,<br />they actually last longer than whole, uncut bunches. Contrary to popular belief, bagged<br />greens don’t lose their nutrition over<br />time, as long as they’re stored properly. The only downside to packaged greens is that<br />juice from cut or crushed leaves are more likely to<br />spur the growth of bacteria such as salmonella. According to nutrition and wellness<br />expert Frances Largeman-Roth, “the<br />benefits definitely outweigh the risk.” Frances Largeman-<br />Roth, via Livestrong
