How I protect my family from pesticides and food safety recalls in salads
Now that summer is in full swing, I’m all about quick and easy meals overflowing with fresh produce. If you saw one of my recent blog posts or follow my Instagram stories, you’ll notice that gorgeous salads — often topped with something hot off the grill — are a mainstay of our weekly summer menus.
Time to reexamine our menus
These beautiful salad platters are easy-to-make, healthy options that our whole family loves. What could be better for you, right? Yet, after weeks of tediously wiping down every box, can and piece of produce that came into our house at the height of the quarantine crisis, I’ve become far more vigilant and intentional about the foods we choose to put into our bodies. Beyond just eating healthier, we’re also more aware of and concerned about contamination and food poisoning.
Which foods are most likely to cause food poisoning and food safety risks?
Shortly before the pandemic crisis began, I read an explosive article in the Boston Globe about food poisoning caused by tainted salad greens. According to the article, contaminated lettuces account for more food poisonings than ground beef and the results can be absolutely devastating. I myself can attest to the nasty effects that food poisoning from contaminated salads can cause –a number of years ago I got sick during a vacation in Mexico after eating a tainted Cesar salad. I spent most of my vacation sick in bed, but the truth is, I was lucky. Beyond vomiting, diarrhea and flu like symptoms, extreme cases of food poisoning can lead to hospitalization, severe long-term medical complications and even death. The last thing I want to be worried about right now (or ever) is someone in our family landing in the hospital because they were eating salad!
Indoor Farming is a Safer Alternative
There is some good news however — it’s becoming easier to avoid the types of contamination that happen with lettuces grown using traditional farming methods thanks to the rise of indoor farming techniques. Salads produced in hydroponic greenhouses are grown in water instead of soil, for cleaner greens from inception. What’s more, they are grown, harvested, and packaged indoors, allowing for the highest level of control over pests and disease without the use of pesticides or other chemicals. That’s good news because even organic greens are typically farmed using pesticides — in fact, traditionally grown kale and spinach are both included on the “2020 Dirty Dozen” list for pesticide residue on produce. While the indoor farming industry is still new, year-round greenhouses are popping up across the country. Here in northern Illinois, BrightFarms has a greenhouse not far from my hometown and I’ve been happy to find their products at Mariano’s stores.
Why I Choose Bright Farms
Our family was first introduced to BrightFarms a few years ago, when I started working with them on recipe development and other culinary projects. Since that time, their greens — especially their kid-friendly, mild tasting Sunny Crunch lettuces — have become a staple in our fridge and on our table. I love that the products are produced locally, which means they arrive at the supermarket far fresher than brands that have been brought in from across the country. Since I’m always looking for shortcuts, I also love that they require no rinsing, since they are grown in a controlled environment without pesticides or soil contamination.
How to Incorporate More Greens Into Recipes
Finding a great source for greens that are fresh, safe and healthy, inspired a renewed effort to incorporate them into as many family meals as possible. We use Bright Farms lettuces in some of my favorite salad recipes, their wonderful spinach and basil in pesto and their mild baby kale in smoothies and popsicles. Be sure to also check out my free printable Salad Bar Ingredient Cheat Sheet for lots of creative and kid-friendly ideas. The next time you head to your supermarket, I encourage you to keep an eye out for greens grown in hydroponic greenhouses — I think you’ll be impressed with their quality, safety and freshness. If you send an email to info@brightfarms.com and mention this story, they’d be happy to send you a few coupons to purchase Bright Farms products at Mariano’s Stores. Be sure to use the subject line “Local Greens,” when you send your email!
