In the summer of 2017, a California woman was about to take the first bite of her salad, when she realized that a tiny frog was hanging out in her bowl of spring mix. She immediately ran to the bathroom and threw up.Becky Garfinkel told the Los Angeles Times that she bought the bagged salad mix from Target and after she shared the incident on social media, the store offered her a $5 gift card. As for the frog, Garfinkel's husband rinsed the salad dressing off its tiny body and gave it a reassuring massage. Instead of releasing him (or her) into their yard, they created a frog-friendly terrarium, bought some takeout crickets, and set him up in his new home. They even named him Lucky, because what else would you call a frog who narrowly escaped the business end of a salad fork?Garfinkel's frog is included in a new study published by a University of Illinois postdoctoral researcher, a first-of-its kind analysis of the number of vertebrates—live, dead, or, um, in pieces—that have been found in fresh, bagged, or canned produce in the past 15 years. Lead author Daniel Hughes says that there have been reports of at least 40 such incidents since 2003. Thirty of those incidents involved amphibians and reptiles, but six rodents, three birds, and one Brazilian Free-tailed Bat have also been discovered in those assorted forms of produce."I started looking out of curiosity, saving links to articles of people finding frogs in their salads. Within a couple months, I had this long list. I realized there’s something more going on here than we’ve been led to believe," Hughes said. "Every article I clicked on claimed it was super rare, but when you’re looking at 25 of those incidents, it doesn’t sound that rare to me."The earliest reported incident that Hughes found involved a shopper who found "the head of a lizard" in a bag of romaine lettuce, while the most recent occurred last August, when a Washington, D.C. woman spotted a frog in the takeout salad she'd gotten from a Mediterranean restaurant. He also catalogued Known Salad Vertebrates (our terminology, not his) in 20 states, while Texas and Florida both reported five incidents each. Customers were also more likely to find these uninvited dinner guests in conventionally grown produce than they were in organic varieties.
“It was implied over and over in these articles: if you buy organic, getting a frog is par for the course, essentially,” Hughes said. “If that was true, we should have seen the opposite of what we found. We did not take into account market-share differences between conventional and organic produce, but this result ran contrary to common opinion."As for how the frogs get into plastic bags of salad, or cans of green beans or whatever, Hughes isn't quite sure yet, but he suggests that it could be a combination of the conversion of previously 'wild' land into agricultural land, the increased use of automated farming methods, or the all-around industrialization of food production.“From a wildlife perspective, it’s really hard to screen for animals in the context of industrial-scale harvest speed and volume," he said. "You’d have to spend minutes checking each plant. Romaine, for example, is lettuce folded on lettuce, where it’s easy for moisture-seeking frogs to hide. From a business perspective, can you really spend minutes to check each leaf?"
But if you do empty a bag of spring mix into a serving bowl, and realize that a frog is sitting there staring back at you, he suggests either doing what Becky Garfinkel did and keeping it as a pet, or giving it to a school to study in their science classes. "Releasing wild animals is how invasive species start, and could introduce disease into local frog populations," he said. "Just don’t do it."Who knows—maybe the retailer will give you enough gift cards to buy a terrarium.
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FAQs
"Romaine, for example, is lettuce folded on lettuce, where it's easy for moisture-seeking frogs to hide." In the summer of 2017, a California woman was about to take the first bite of her salad, when she realized that a tiny frog was hanging out in her bowl of spring mix.
Why does my bagged salad go bad so fast? ›
Keep Them Cool on the Way Home From the Grocery Store
Otherwise, the package of greens will be exposed to ambient temperature before it enters the fridge, thereby increasing the risk of condensation (moisture). This can shorten the shelf life of your salad leaves, as moisture encourages rapid deterioration.
Was a frog found in salad mix? ›
A live frog was recently found in a salad mix purchased at a Michigan grocery store. The customer returned the package, including the frog, to the store. According to reports, the frog was identified as a Pacific tree frog and it was eventually released by the store into the wild.
Why not to buy bagged salad? ›
Different microorganisms can contaminate those leafy greens inside packaged salads, including pathogenic E. coli, norovirus, Salmonella, Listeria, and Cyclospora. But the most common microorganism identified in these unfortunate scenarios is E. coli O157:H7, which can potentially cause life-threatening diseases.
How to keep bag salad fresh longer? ›
The moment you're home, pop open that bag of greens. Rip a fresh paper towel from the roll, slide it into the bag of greens, and seal with a chip clip. The paper towel will absorb moisture that would otherwise lead your leaves to rot. This will help the greens stay fresh, giving you more time to use up the bag.
Why is my lettuce going bad in the fridge fast? ›
Lettuce must be dry before storing it, as moisture contributes to spoilage. Use a paper towel or salad spinner to remove all excess water after washing the lettuce.
Do frogs spread salmonella? ›
Reptiles (lizards, snakes, and turtles) and amphibians (frogs, toads and salamanders) can carry infectious bacteria (germs) called Salmonella. Salmonellosis is the disease caused by these bacteria. These same bacteria can also be found in uncooked foods like eggs, meat, and chicken or turkey.
What are the frogs in Chinese food? ›
These frogs, though much smaller than their Western counterparts, are used by Chinese to cook frog legs and by Filipinos who cook them for adobo dishes. The frog's forelimbs and hind legs are fried in oil, while in the adobo method (in which the entire frog is utilized), they are cooked in soy sauce and vinegar.
Where does eat that frog come from? ›
It's a concept often attributed to the 19th-century author Mark Twain, who according to many online sources once said: “If it's your job to eat a frog, it's best to do it first thing in the morning. And if it's your job to eat two frogs, it's best to eat the biggest one first.”
Should you wash bagged salad? ›
Leafy green salads in sealed bags labeled "washed," "triple washed," or "ready-to-eat" that are produced in a facility inspected by a regulatory authority and operated under "Good Manufacturing Practices" (GMP): Do not need additional washing at the time of use unless specially directed on the label.
Throw away bags of lettuce that look swollen or moist.
Moisture creates the perfect growing spot for bacteria and mold, so don't eat the lettuce. You may be able to see brown spots in a spoiled bag of lettuce. You can also try opening the bag. The lettuce will have that nasty, rotten smell if it has gone bad.
What is the safest lettuce to-eat? ›
Q: Are some types of lettuce safer than others? A: Because contamination can happen anywhere from farm to table, no single type of leafy green is risk-free. But hydroponic lettuces (which are greenhouse-grown) are less likely to be contaminated by bacteria from animal droppings.
Why do bagged salads last so long? ›
In the case of lettuce in a bag, the modified atmosphere does two things. First, it changes the way the green leaves behave. The green leaves are still alive, even after you pick the lettuce, and you want to keep them alive as long as possible by changing their behavior. Second, it discourages bacteria.
What salad lasts the longest? ›
Since kale is such a hearty green, it can last dressed in the fridge for days without wilting. Sweet, charred corn is partnered with a slew of ingredients for a salad that's just the right balance of smoky, spicy, tangy.
Why does bagged salad turn pink? ›
The primary reason behind the pink discoloration of lettuce is the oxidation of anthocyanins, a group of water-soluble pigments commonly found in plants. Anthocyanins are responsible for the vibrant red, purple, and blue hues seen in various fruits and vegetables.
Why does bagged salad have a use by date? ›
It is important to understand best before and use-by dates on food labels to keep food safe and to help reduce food waste. Food may contain bacteria, and if stored for too long or at the wrong temperature can cause food poisoning.
Why do greens go bad so quickly? ›
“Like many plants after harvest, salad greens start to decay,” Spina said. “When they get old, they release more moisture (water) and become slimy.” Bacteria naturally live on veggies. When combined with air and moisture, these greens break down faster – leading to discoloration, bad odors and slimy leaves.
How do you keep bagged shredded lettuce fresh longer? ›
How do I keep chopped or shredded lettuce fresh? Wrapping up freshly chopped or shredded lettuce in a clean rolled kitchen towel prior to storing in the fridge can help keep lettuce crisp and preserve its taste. For optimal freshness, be sure to use the lettuce quickly, storing for no more than three days.
