Consumer Reports: E. coli bacteria risks from leafy greens

Last month, the CDC announced that an outbreak of E. coli linked to lettuce appears to have ended, but not before 167 people from 27 different states became sick.

If you're trying for a healthy diet, you're probably eating plenty of nutrient-rich leafy greens. But while there are many health benefits, leafy greens can also carry contaminants like E-coli and other harmful bacteria.

Consumer Reports is here to explain the root of the problem and how to protect yourself.

If you think you can't go wrong eating leafy greens, like lettuce, kale and spinach, you're mostly right. They've been linked to reduced risk of heart disease, some cancers and type 2 diabetes.

But, behind their star-studded benefits lie risks that can be dangerous. Between 2006 and 2019, greens like romaine, spinach, and bags of spring-mix were responsible for "at least 46 national outbreaks" of E. coli, causing many hospitalizations and even some deaths.

"So here's the challenge: we want people to eat these green vegetables but they're easily contaminated by bacteria," said Consumer Reports Chief Scientific Officer James Dickerson, PhD.

Bacteria that come from animal feces can get onto the foods we eat.

Many greens, especially romaine lettuce, are grown in California and Arizona. For leafy green farmers, keeping fields free from dangerous bacteria is a challenge!

"You're always worried about contamination from animals," farmer Amber Brouilette. "If you're growing leafy greens outside even just wild birds flying overhead increases the risk of contamination by salmonella and E.coli."

It is important for farmers to take steps like keeping animals away from fields, sanitizing equipment and boots and wearing gloves. But even with these precautions, it's still possible for contaminants to end up on the greens.

So should you stop eating leafy greens? Consumer Reports says that for most people, the nutritional benefits far outweigh the potential contamination risks.

Not everyone who is exposed to Salmonella or E.coli gets sick, but for people who are most vulnerable, that includes pregnant women, older adults, infants and young children, and anyone with a compromised immune system, they should carefully consider whether to eat raw greens.

"One of the best things you can do is cook it," Dickerson said. "So cook it to the point where it's wilted."

And Consumer Reports says don't be fooled by labels saying greens have been tripled washed. Even the most thorough washes are primarily designed to remove dirt and grit, they can't ensure that greens are bacteria-free.

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