salad pillow packs

[JamesEverton]

I remember seeing somewhere that the 'pillow packs' of salad that the supermarkets sell were somehow less nutritious than just buying a lettuce. Can someone let me know what the deal is, please? Also, M&S and others sell organic leaves in these sort of packs - do the negative effects of the packaging outweigh the benefits of buying organic (assuming there are negative effects etc etc).

[Buenchico]

As to the first bit, the only reasons I can think of that might make pillow packs less nutritious than the 'natural' products is either if the industrial washing processes used somehow destroy vitamins (unlikely) or if the additional packing means that the pillow packs aren't quite as fresh. (Vitamins can degrade with time but it's unlikely that there would be much difference in the time taken to get the products to the shelves).

As to the second bit, if you're buying organic because of concerns for the environment then it makes sense to avoid organic product which use unnecessary packaging. If you're buying organic for better flavour or a more nutritious product then forget it. Every serious study ever made has shown that there are no benefits whatsoever, in terms of flavour or nutritional value, in buying organic.

Chris

[frizzytwig]

Read in a food guide that the gases they put into the bag to keep the salad fresh actually depletes the nutrients.

[JamesEverton]

I did try to do some digging around before I asked this question but then I remembered that the supposed problem with these salads was to do with chlorine. I found a press release from UK salad producers that refute this. Obviously this is going to be biased in their favour but I'm wondering if my avoidance of these salads is based on dodgy info.

Buenchico, you make a good point about packaging and organic foods. I'm not sure if I agree with you about the quality of organic food. Maybe I'm kidding myself but I don't believe that the chemicals used in intensive farming produce vegetables that are as good for you as the organic alternative. As for meat, my own experience tells me that there is a vast difference in quality of taste. Buying organic also provides some reassurances as to the animals' welfare.

[JamesEverton]

Meant to say, for anyone who is interested, the text of that press release can be found at:

http://www.just-food.com/press_releases_detail.asp?art=1 566

I found this article about problems with bagged salad.

http://www.searchlores.org/realicra/salads.htm

Also, Friends of the Earth advise avoiding salad bags.

http://www.foe.co.uk/living/tips/salad_savvy.html

[Buenchico]

Just a note on the 'organic' issue: I accept that some (but not all) foods labelled 'organic' can taste better than 'non-organic' but this is only because 'organic' farmers often use different varieties (in the case of crops) or different husbandry techniques (in the case of livestock). The fact that the farmer has met the criteria for 'organic status' does not, per se, improve the quality of his products.

Chris

[WendyS]

I grow most of my own salad stuff and find that the contents of the pillow packs go slimy quite quickly once they're opened.  If I have to buy green salad I buy a whole lettuce.  It stores better intact and if you've still got it after a few days, cut a small slice off the root stalk and soak it in a bowl of cold water for a couple of hours it will stay in good condition for much longer than cut leaves.