The consumption of lettuce is actually considered healthy, but scientists from Braunschweig have discovered that there are coli bacteria on ready-to-eat lettuce and other cut vegetables. The said antibiotic-resistant bacteria were found in every single sample of the 24 packs purchased.
For the study, researchers from Braunschweig bought various packaged herbs and salads in several supermarkets, in particular mixed lettuce, rocket, and coriander. These were then examined for multi-resistant bacteria: the result is frightening!
Where do the germs come from?
In many animal houses, the antibiotic tetracycline is used, some of which is later excreted by the animals. The excrements of the animals contain residues of this antibiotic as well as resistant germs.
But what does that have to do with ready-to-eat salads? The remains of the drug, including the antibiotic-resistant bacteria, end up in the manure used to fertilize the fields and thus also come into contact with the lettuce and other plants grown there.
Several antibiotics are powerless against the germs found
At first, the bacteria can still be classified as harmless, but the real danger begins after consumption: the intestinal germs have various resistance genes that can be transferred. In this way, the resistant genes can be passed on from the initially harmless intestinal bacterium to more dangerous bacteria. This means that if the antibiotic-resistant bacteria cause disease in the body, no drug will be able to counteract it because the pathogen is immune to it. This fact is to be classified as very worrying, especially for seriously ill people.
Wash the lettuce thoroughly before eating
The general rule is: to wash lettuce and raw vegetables thoroughly with clean water before eating to ensure that you eat as few germs as possible. At best, do not buy pre-packaged or pre-cut salads, because that is where the antibiotic-resistant bacteria spread particularly quickly. Pregnant women and weakened people, in particular, should follow this rule.
If you still have concerns, you can eat vegetables and fresh herbs to 70 degrees for at least two minutes before eating to avoid the risk of germs.
