Stew Leonard’s, a New York metro grocery chain, has experienced an 11% decline in lettuce sales this week due to a multi-state food poisoning outbreak linked to shredded iceberg lettuce. In response, the company is increasing its stocking of greenhouse-grown lettuce as an alternative for customers concerned about the contamination.
The chain has reduced its orders for bagged lettuce from brands such as Andy Boy, Dole, and Fresh Express, which contain a mix of greens that may include iceberg lettuce, even though these specific brands have not been implicated in the outbreak. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned consumers to avoid shredded iceberg lettuce from Mexico sold at Taco Bell locations in several Midwestern states.
The cyclospora outbreak, which has affected over 30 states and led to widespread reports of gastrointestinal distress, has caused a noticeable dip in produce sales, according to industry experts. "People are calling in and reducing orders across the board because they think consumers won’t buy fresh produce," Joelle Mosso of Western Growers told The Wall Street Journal.
In Michigan, a state with a high number of reported cyclospora infections, health authorities advised residents that bagged, pre-washed salad kits pose a risk. They suggested that purchasing whole heads of lettuce and removing the outer leaves might be a safer option.
Stew Leonard’s CEO Stew Leonard Jr. is promoting greenhouse-grown lettuce from suppliers like Little Leaf Farms, which advertises a "hands-free growing" process. The company also offers a private-label greenhouse-grown greenleaf crunch harvested in the Hudson Valley. Leonard believes this method is safer than field-grown produce, as it bypasses irrigation systems that could be contaminated with the parasite blamed for the outbreak.
While the FDA has not officially identified the source of the outbreak, The Washington Post reported that Taylor Farms of Salinas, California, is the supplier in question. The company did not respond to requests for comment.
Initially, Leonard expressed concern that promoting greenhouse-grown options might further alarm customers. However, by Friday, he decided to actively feature these alternatives in his stores, noting that lettuce sales remained negative on that day.
