Gluten free packaged salads? (cross-contamination concerns)

[NoGlutensToday]

Hi all,

I'd like to buy some packaged salads (arugula, baby kale, spring mixes etc) but I'm quite leery of foods that have been processed. I'm very susceptible to cross-contamination and that's my fear -- that these salad mixes might be using facilities that also process foods that contain gluten.

Any experiences with packaged salads here? I live in Canada and have checked the Dole Canada Salads website but there isn't any info there.

I need my leafy greens and it should be easier to get it fresh now that it is springtime, but packaged salads would make things easier during time crunches.

Any insight appreciated!

[cyclinglady]

I used to buy them when we went camping, but now I usually just make my salads from scratch (invest in a cheap salad spinner).  There have been so many recalls on these processed salads for bacterial contamination.  When I buy the spring baby greens (e.g. at Costco), I still wash and spin).  Most packaged salads do not last long and are expensive.  I usually prep a salad for dinner and then a batch for the next day.  A bit less work and I always have fresh greens on hand.  

Most likely safe from a gluten perspective. If you get sick, my bet is from food poisoning!  

[Ennis-TX]

I second Cyclinglady, get fresh, WASH and spin then store in a salad keeper box with paper towels in the fridge or in a HUGE salad bowl. Prepping a weeks worth at a time is good. 

On the kits/mixes, if just green mix that probably safe, the concerns are with salad kits, which have the croutons, dressing,s etc in the bag. I would stay away from those.

I have digestion issues with raw greens, I either saute, steam, or dehydrate and grind into a powder to ease digestion with my greens. There are many simple dishes with the saute methods. IE pan fry bacon, sausage, or ham, remove then saute choice of spinach, kale, or cabbage in the fats/grease, deglaze with a bit of water and stir back in the chopped up meats, simmer to reduce and serve with seasonings. The meat juices will flavor the veggies. The cabbage with some added onions with bacon used to be a staple in my house on the checks where low as a kid. 

[kareng]

I use them all the time. They aren’t going to bake bread in a lettuce factory.  And the packaged mixes that have croutons included - the croutons are baked and packaged, at a bakery to be added to the salad.  I don’t see any reason to make our lives harder than we need them to be.