Why leafy greens are often a source of foodborne outbreaksLettuce can be contaminated when it’s grown or during processing. And because it’s usually eaten raw, there’s no final “kill step” to eliminate pathogens.Leafy greens have often been implicated in outbreaks of foodborne illnesses.SimpleImages / Getty ImagesJuly 22, 2026, 2:04 PM EDTBy Lily AlvinoE. coli in romaine lettuce. Salmonella in salad greens. The ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce is far from the first time leafy greens have been implicated in the spread of a foodborne illness. But what makes lettuce so susceptible to be a carrier of gut-churning pathogens?Just a moment.We are getting your experience ready.
If that bagged salad looks sad, stay away: Why leafy greens are often a source of outbreaks
Lettuce can be contaminated when it’s grown or during processing. And because it’s usually eaten raw, there’s no final “kill step” to eliminate pathogens.
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