Ethan Clarke
There have been rumours circulating online that romaine lettuce has a thin layer of plastic on its leaves. This rumour was sparked by a viral video showing a woman peeling off a plastic-like film from the lettuce. However, experts have confirmed that this film is not plastic. It is actually the lettuce's epidermal or skin layer, which forms in response to cold temperatures during the growing process. This natural phenomenon, known as epidermal blistering or peeling, occurs when lettuce is grown in cold regions like Arizona and is not harmful to consumers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic coating on Romaine Lettuce | This is a misleading claim. |
| Source of the claim | A viral video shows a woman peeling plastic off lettuce leaves. |
| Reason for the claim | The E. coli outbreak affecting romaine lettuce. |
| Truth | The "plastic coating" is the "Epidermal or Skin Layer" of the lettuce. |
| Reason for the formation of the layer | Exposure to cold temperatures during the growing process. |
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What You'll Learn
- Viral videos show a woman peeling plastic off romaine lettuce leaves
- The substance is not plastic, but the lettuce's epidermal or skin layer
- The plastic coating occurs due to frostbite when lettuce is grown in freezing temperatures
- This phenomenon is known as 'epidermal blistering' or 'epidermal peeling'
- The peeling is not harmful and is a natural response to cold temperatures
Viral videos show a woman peeling plastic off romaine lettuce leaves
In 2018, a viral video surfaced showing a woman peeling what appeared to be a plastic coating off romaine lettuce leaves. The video sparked concern among viewers, with some speculating about the toxicity of store-bought foods. However, the claims made in the video are misleading and have been periodically resurfacing online since at least 2012.
The "plastic coating" seen in the video is not actually plastic at all. It is a natural phenomenon known as epidermal peeling or epidermal blistering. This occurs when romaine lettuce is exposed to freezing temperatures during the winter season in growing regions like Yuma, Arizona, where temperatures can drop to the low twenties at night. The outer skin of the lettuce experiences a type of freeze burn, resulting in a blistering of the skin similar to a skin blister on humans.
The USDA confirms that this filmy white epidermis can also develop during transport if the lettuce gets too cold while being shipped from California or Arizona, where most US lettuce is grown. While the appearance of this coating may be concerning to consumers, it is a harmless side effect of cold weather and is not indicative of any external application or contamination.
It is worth noting that the video resurfaced in 2020 following a nationwide E. coli outbreak affecting romaine lettuce, which caused at least 80 infections and more than 40 hospitalizations. This may have contributed to the spread of the video and the concerns about the safety of store-bought lettuce. However, the "plastic coating" seen in the video is unrelated to the E. coli contamination.
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The substance is not plastic, but the lettuce's epidermal or skin layer
Several videos have circulated online showing people peeling what appears to be a plastic coating off romaine lettuce leaves. These videos have caused a buzz online, with many associating them with the 2020 E. coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce. However, the substance seen in these videos is not plastic. Instead, it is the lettuce's epidermal or skin layer.
The outer skin of romaine lettuce can develop a "freeze burn" when grown in cold temperatures, resulting in blistering of the skin, similar to a sunburn or frostbite in humans. This natural phenomenon is called "epidermal blistering" or "epidermal peeling" and has been documented since at least 2012. It occurs because large amounts of romaine lettuce are grown in Arizona, which experiences cold temperatures at night.
The lettuce's response to the cold temperatures results in the formation of a filmy white epidermis that can be peeled off. This substance is not harmful or dangerous in any way. It is simply the lettuce's natural protection against the cold. The peeling of this layer is similar to peeling the transparent outer membrane of other leafy vegetables like bok choy.
While the substance may resemble plastic, it is important to note that it is not plastic nor any other externally applied substance. The lettuce's epidermal layer is a natural occurrence and does not indicate any contamination or health risks associated with consuming the lettuce. This clarification has been confirmed by experts and the Department of Agriculture, who have debunked the claims made in the viral videos.
In summary, while romaine lettuce may appear to have a plastic coating, it is actually the lettuce's natural epidermal or skin layer that forms in response to cold temperatures during the growing process. This layer is not harmful and is a well-documented phenomenon in the production of lettuce.
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The plastic coating occurs due to frostbite when lettuce is grown in freezing temperatures
There have been several viral videos on social media showing people peeling off a plastic-like film from the leaves of romaine lettuce. These videos have caused a buzz online, with many people associating them with the E. coli outbreaks in 2018 and 2020 that were linked to romaine lettuce and resulted in numerous hospitalizations and infections.
However, the plastic-like film seen in these videos is not plastic. It is a natural substance that forms when lettuce is grown or transported in freezing temperatures. This substance is called the "epidermal or skin layer" of the lettuce and is not applied externally. The formation of this coating occurs due to a type of frostbite, resulting in a "blistering" of the skin, similar to a sunburn on human skin. This phenomenon is known as "epidermal blistering" or "epidermal peeling".
The confusion around the plastic-like film on lettuce can be attributed to the visual similarity of the substance to plastic. Additionally, the concern about contaminated lettuce due to the E. coli outbreaks may have contributed to the spread of these rumours.
It is important to note that the romaine lettuce grown in Arizona, where 98% of US lettuce is produced, experiences very cold nights, which can result in the formation of this plastic-like film. The lettuce's response to the cold temperatures leads to the outer epidermis forming, which can be peeled off.
While the plastic-like film on romaine lettuce is not harmful, it is essential to follow proper food safety practices and wash all produce thoroughly before consumption to reduce the risk of any potential contamination.
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This phenomenon is known as 'epidermal blistering' or 'epidermal peeling'
There have been viral videos circulating online that show people pulling off a plastic-like substance from the leaves of romaine lettuce. These videos are misleading. The substance in question is not plastic, but rather the "epidermis" or "skin layer" of the lettuce. This phenomenon is known as epidermal blistering or epidermal peeling, and it occurs when lettuce is exposed to cold temperatures during the growing process.
Lettuce grown in Arizona, where 98% of US lettuce comes from, frequently experiences very cold temperatures at night. This can cause the outer skin of the lettuce to develop a type of "freeze burn", resulting in a blistering of the skin similar to a sunburn or frostbite in humans. This blistering can appear as a translucent film on the lettuce leaves, which has been mistaken for plastic in the viral videos.
The epidermal layer of lettuce is a natural substance and is not harmful or dangerous in any way. It is simply the plant's response to cold temperatures. The blistering can occur during the growing process or during transport if the lettuce is exposed to cold temperatures.
While the videos of people peeling the epidermal layer off lettuce are not indicative of any health risks associated with the lettuce, they gained traction online due to their association with an E. coli outbreak affecting romaine lettuce. The E. coli contamination was a separate and proven threat, causing at least 80 infections and more than 40 hospitalizations.
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The peeling is not harmful and is a natural response to cold temperatures
There have been several viral videos purporting to show people peeling plastic off the leaves of romaine lettuce. These videos are misleading. The substance in question is not plastic but is, in fact, a natural response of the lettuce to cold temperatures. This response is known as "epidermal blistering" or "epidermal peeling".
Romaine lettuce is frequently grown in Arizona, which often experiences very cold temperatures at night. The outer skin of the lettuce can experience a type of "freeze burn" in these conditions, resulting in "blistering", much like human skin would react to a burn. This reaction can also occur when the produce is transported if the leaves get too cold en route from California or Arizona, where 98% of US lettuce is grown.
The "plastic" seen in the videos is, in fact, the "epidermal or skin layer" of the lettuce and is not harmful in any way. It is simply a natural response to the cold, and consumers of both organic and conventionally grown lettuce have noticed this effect. The peeling is not harmful, and lettuce growers such as Markon have confirmed that the film is a natural response to the cold.
The phenomenon of "plastic lettuce" is not new, and similar rumours have been spreading since at least 2012. These rumours often resurface periodically as panicked consumers share warnings without verification. However, the "plastic peeling" seen in the videos is simply a natural phenomenon that occurs when lettuce is exposed to freezing temperatures.
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Frequently asked questions
The plastic coating seen in viral videos is not plastic at all. It is a natural substance called the "epidermal or skin layer" that forms when lettuce is grown in colder temperatures. It is not harmful in any way.
The outer layer of romaine lettuce can look like plastic due to a process called "epidermal blistering" or "epidermal peeling". This occurs when the lettuce is exposed to cold temperatures during the growing process, causing the outer skin of the lettuce to experience a type of "freeze burn" or "frostbite", resulting in a blistering of the skin.
No, romaine lettuce leaves are not covered in plastic. The substance seen being peeled off lettuce leaves in viral videos is the natural epidermis of the lettuce, which can form when the lettuce encounters freezing temperatures during transportation as well.
