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Packed salads Updated: 20 Mar 2009

Freshness

Despite the "fresh" claims on labels, panel members found most samples contained some brown or wilting leaves. These were usually a small proportion of the overall mix and most of the bag was still "OK" - though you'd need to pick out the "bad" bits before making a salad.

The worst of the bunch, a Leader Brand Value Pack Mesclun, had a lot of brown leaves and an "off-putting" smell. This salad definitely didn't live up to its "100% Fresh" claim. Brand is seemingly not a good guide to freshness - the best and worst ready-to-eat salads in our tasting were both by Leader Brand. (See the survey results for more.)

Salads with lots of chopped leaves typically deteriorate more rapidly than those with intact leaves. The Value Pack Mesclun ranked lowest by our panel had plenty of chopped or broken leaves, contributing to the noticeable browning.

Bulk-bin mixes

Our 15 salads included 2 mesclun mixes from bulk bins. The advantage of these self-service bins is that you can buy as little or as much salad as you want. Both our samples rated only "fair".

Best-before dates

These weren't always a reliable guide to freshness. Both our best and worst salads had a best-before date of the next day.

Always check the best-before date but don't rely on it alone. Check the contents of the bag for evidence of discoloured or slimy leaves. The type of leaf as well as the retailer's storage and handling can affect how well the salad keeps.