Smoking in Food Packing Plants

There is a brand of packaged Romaine Hearts that I bought several times that smells of cigarette smoke. At first, I thought it was my imagination, but subsequent purchases were the same. Just recently, I tried a package from Trader Joe's. They smell very fresh, like lettuce. Has anyone any knowledge if food packing plants allow smoking in specific areas within the packing building that just might filter out into the food, or might this be an odor produced by a chemical wash of the lettuce coming in contact with the plastic packaging? Either way, the lettuce tastes like smoke to me, even after washing.

There is a brand of packaged Romaine Hearts that I bought several times that smells of cigarette smoke. At first, I thought it was my imagination, but subsequent purchases were the same. Just recently, I tried a package from Trader Joe's. They smell very fresh, like lettuce. Has anyone any knowledge if food packing plants allow smoking in specific areas within the packing building that just might filter out into the food, or might this be an odor produced by a chemical wash of the lettuce coming in contact with the plastic packaging? Either way, the lettuce tastes like smoke to me, even after washing.

I'd be pretty surprised if smoking were allowed in food processing areas, at least here in the U.S. Could you tell where the smoky ones were packaged?

It's a brand I get at my local supermarket, I will look at it when I am there on Saturday.

Hi Karen,

My relatives buy produce from the local growers in Northern California and they have noticed a smokey scent and taste that they conclude comes from the frequent fires around the area. Where does your produce come from?

The brand is Full Circle, an Organic brand that Raleys carries now. It is packaged in Sokie, Il...not sure I remember the city correctly, but it was something like that. I picked up a package today, while at the market, and I could detect a slight smoke smell.