The consumer watchdog Stiftung Warentest tested 19 ready-to-eat salads, including two organic products marketed specifically for children. Salad tested both on their expiration date or the day before.
Not a good product rated "excellent" or "good". Ten described as "satisfactory," while eight were categorized as of "sufficient" quality. The organic salad had gone off and was rated "poor."
In nine cases, the level of yeast and fungi more than the guidelines, which the organization said it could cause problems for people with sensitive stomachs.
While there are no traces of salmonella, listeria or enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) found, widespread fungal contamination between products.
Most of the salads found "no or almost no pesticides." But the salads are marketed as organic and sold by the supermarket chain Rewe contain the highest pesticide levels of all products tested - so high in fact that it exceeds that allowed by the "bio" classification.
Organization advises people to wash salads before eating, even if it's marketed as "ready to eat." It also recommends that consumers buy and eat a salad bag a few days before its use-by date. Writing in his magazine tests, however, he ate ready-to-eat salad it's still better than not eating salad at all.
But advised pregnant women, people with weak immune systems, children and the elderly to avoid ready-to-eat salad once.
