But it turns out there are some benefits and good reasoning behind the change. One: e.coli. The reason lettuce has become a too-common culprit in disease outbreaks is because more people are touching it in the journey from farm to plate. Adding chopping knives and bowls to the mix adds another layer of potential human-to-produce contamination. Food safety-wise, it's better for you to cut your own greens.
The second benefit: It makes the line move faster—a huge plus given that many fast-casual chains in big cities have a line out the door during peak lunch hours. "We get all our produce fresh, nothing comes to the store pre-cut so throughout the day our team preps the product. Now with the removal of chopping, we simply prep the product smaller," says Just Salad's director of marketing, Stephen Swartz. "The salads taste the same, if not better, and the store experience is a lot smoother and faster."
So while the change is becoming a mainstay in chains across the country, really, it isn't all bad. It's not like they're eliminating avocados—now that would be unacceptable.
To make sure you avoid e.coli at home, here's the best way to wash your produce. And find out why fast casual restaurants are taking over.
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