New York, Feb 2 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Consumer Reports performed tests on packaged salads, and found bacteria in rather high levels. This indicate that there were packaged in very bad conditions, and with poor sanitation as well, because some fecal bacteria were found too in the samples.

The Consumers Union today also issued a report pleading with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to set safety standards for salads, after they saw that they were contaminated in very high levels with bacteria. “The Senate should act immediately to pass pending FDA food safety reform legislation that requires the agency to set performance standards as well as develop safety standards for the growing or processing of fresh produce,” said Hansen. “FDA should also formally declare that certain pathogenic bacteria — such as E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, and Listeria — be considered adulterants when found in salad greens”.

According to the report, 39% of the sample salads exceeded 10,000 CFUs per gram for total coliforms, and 23 percent for Enteroccocus. These particular levels are not acceptable by industry consultants. Many packages which comprised of spinach and which had their use-by date of up to 5 days had very high levels of bacteria, which were not deemed fit for consumption.