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US salad chains distance themselves from iceberg lettuce amid cyclospora outbreak
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A cyclospora outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce has prompted major salad bowl chains to publicly emphasize they do not use the ingredient. The US FDA linked the outbreak to iceberg lettuce, with the CDC tracking over 800 confirmed cases across 31 states since May 1. Chains including Chipotle, Chopt Creative Salad Company, Sweetgreen, and Just Salad issued statements assuring customers their menus are iceberg-free, using alternatives like romaine, baby kale, and baby spinach. Location data from Placer.ai shows foot traffic declines at Chipotle (nearly 7%), Chopt (14.3%), and Sweetgreen (1.4%) following the outbreak. The article also notes longstanding criticism of iceberg lettuce for its lack of flavor and nutritional value, though some nutritionists highlight its freshness and hydration benefits.
Source report
In times of uncertainty, finding common ground can be reassuring. For salad enthusiasts, the ongoing cyclospora outbreak has become a chance to criticize one of the least trendy leafy greens: iceberg lettuce.
After the U.S. Food and Drug Administration linked the outbreak to iceberg lettuce, details about the contaminated food supply continue to emerge. Nevertheless, several salad bowl chains have been quick to emphasize that your lunch would be safe, as the tainted leaf is unwelcome in their kitchens.
Chain Responses
- Chipotle said in a recent all-caps message to its app users: "We don't serve shredded iceberg lettuce." Elsewhere on its site, the company specifies that its "supergreens" salad bowl blend consists of romaine, baby kale, and baby spinach.
- Chopt Creative Salad Company, a Northeast-based chain, said in a notice on its website: "We want to assure our guests that we do not serve iceberg lettuce in our restaurants."
- Sweetgreen, a national chain, said in a similar alert: "Sweetgreen does not use iceberg lettuce in our menu."
- Just Salad founder and CEO Nick Kenner sent an email on Monday titled "lettuce you can trust," assuring customers that his company "does not serve iceberg, pre-cut or shredded lettuce."
Outbreak Details
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have tracked cyclospora cases in 31 states since May 1, including over 800 confirmed cases and another 1,500 under investigation. The cyclospora parasite is transmitted to people who consume food or water contaminated with human feces at some point during production, and an infection typically causes severe diarrhea.
Impact on Foot Traffic
The outbreak appears to be affecting foot traffic, according to location data analytics firm Placer.ai. On Friday, July 17:
- Visits to Chipotle were down nearly 7% compared to the weekday average earlier in the year.
- Chopt saw a 14.3% decline.
- Sweetgreen experienced a modest 1.4% drop.
- Just Salad was not included in the report.
Iceberg Lettuce's Reputation
This episode is the latest in a series of bad publicity for iceberg lettuce, which has been criticized for its lack of flavor and nutrition.
"It's at the bottom of the salad food chain," Chick-fil-A's head of innovation, David Farmer, told Business Insider in 2016. "There is no nutritional value in iceberg lettuce." Farmer removed the ingredient from the chicken chain's recipes.
Other nutritionists praise iceberg's ability to stay fresh and crisp where other greens wilt, and note it can be a good source of fiber and hydration.
Either way, avoiding iceberg is one way to ensure your lunch doesn't feel like a leap of faith.
Source
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