Salads and space are not meant to go together. As per research, vegetables could be more susceptible to bacterial infections in space than on Earth. The International Space Station might not be the ideal environment for cultivating healthy greens.

Why is eating salads in space a bad idea?

<p>The weightlessness of the International Space Station (ISS) might not be the ideal environment for cultivating healthy greens or salads for astronauts. Fascinating&nbsp;research from the University of Delaware has thrown some light as to what may be wrong and why space-grown salads are prone to get contaminated with bacteria.</p>

<p>NASA has been including space-grown lettuce on the ISS menu for over three years now. This is carefully nurtured in control chambers that replicate the necessary conditions for plant growth.</p>

<p>However, a new study, published in Scientific Reports and npj Microgravity, revealed a potential health risk associated with these leafy greens. The ISS harbours pathogenic bacteria and fungi, and these microbes could pose a threat to the health of astronauts.</p>

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<p>The concern is not just about the well-being of the spacefarers but also the possibility of a foodborne illness outbreak derailing a space mission, considering the substantial investment in space exploration by entities like NASA and SpaceX.</p>

<p>The study conducted by the University of Delaware researchers involved growing lettuce in conditions simulating the weightless environment of the ISS.</p>

<p>Surprisingly, the plants exposed to simulated microgravity were found to be more susceptible to infections from Salmonella as the plant's stomata, from where it breathes, remain open under space conditions.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Noah Totsline, the lead author of the paper said, "The fact that they were remaining open when we were presenting them with what would appear to be a stress was really unexpected."</p>

<p>To mimic microgravity, the researchers used a clinostat, a device that rotates plants, confusing the plant's response to gravity. The findings revealed that Salmonella could enter leaf tissue more easily under space conditions than on Earth and so after rotating, which confused the plant, the stomata was observed to be closed.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>The researchers also introduced a helper bacterium called B. subtilis UD1022, known for promoting plant growth.&nbsp;However, in space-like conditions, UD1022 failed to protect plants.&nbsp;"The failure of UD1022 to close stomata under simulated microgravity is both surprising and interesting and opens another can of worms," said Harsh Bais, a plant biology professor involved in the research.</p>
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<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The weightlessness of the International Space Station (ISS) might not be the ideal environment for cultivating healthy greens or salads for astronauts. Fascinating research from the University of Delaware has thrown some light as to what may be wrong and why space-grown salads are prone to get contaminated with bacteria.

The weightlessness of the International Space Station (ISS) might not be the ideal environment for cultivating healthy greens or salads for astronauts. Fascinating research from the University of Delaware has thrown some light as to what may be wrong and why space-grown salads are prone to get contaminated with bacteria. NASA has been including space-grown lettuce on the ISS menu for over three years now. This is carefully nurtured in control chambers that replicate the necessary conditions for plant growth. However, a new study, published in Scientific Reports and npj Microgravity, revealed a potential health risk associated with these leafy greens. The ISS harbours pathogenic bacteria and fungi, and these microbes could pose a threat to the health of astronauts. Also Read | US Postal Service issues stamps with iconic James Webb images The concern is not just about the well-being of the spacefarers but also the possibility of a foodborne illness outbreak derailing a space mission, considering the substantial investment in space exploration by entities like NASA and SpaceX. The study conducted by the University of Delaware researchers involved growing lettuce in conditions simulating the weightless environment of the ISS. Surprisingly, the plants exposed to simulated microgravity were found to be more susceptible to infections from Salmonella as the plant's stomata, from where it breathes, remain open under space conditions. Also Read | Study finds simple blood test to be effective in detecting Alzheimer's disease Noah Totsline, the lead author of the paper said, "The fact that they were remaining open when we were presenting them with what would appear to be a stress was really unexpected." To mimic microgravity, the researchers used a clinostat, a device that rotates plants, confusing the plant's response to gravity. The findings revealed that Salmonella could enter leaf tissue more easily under space conditions than on Earth and so after rotating, which confused the plant, the stomata was observed to be closed. Watch | Entrepreneur harnesses biowaste to power homes, farms × The researchers also introduced a helper bacterium called B. subtilis UD1022, known for promoting plant growth. However, in space-like conditions, UD1022 failed to protect plants. "The failure of UD1022 to close stomata under simulated microgravity is both surprising and interesting and opens another can of worms," said Harsh Bais, a plant biology professor involved in the research. (With inputs from agencies)

Space salads: Research shows why greens for astronauts get infected under microgravity

<p>User Dhaval Singh took to social media platform X to share his experience with others and warn them.</p>

<p>He also shared a video from his X account, showing the snail resting on the vegetable salad that he ordered from local restaurant chain Leon Grill.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Never ordering from <a href="https://twitter.com/LeonGrill?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LeonGrill</a> ever again!<a href="https://twitter.com/SwiggyCares?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SwiggyCares</a> do whatever you can to ensure this shit doesn't happen to others...<br />
Blr folks take note<br />
Ughhhhh <a href="https://t.co/iz9aCsJiW9">pic.twitter.com/iz9aCsJiW9</a></p>
— Dhaval singh (@Dhavalsingh7) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dhavalsingh7/status/1735750561637786058?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>"Never ordering from @LeonGrill ever again!" he wrote in his post, adding, "Swiggy, do whatever you can to ensure this sh*t doesn't happen to others... Bengaluru folks take note," he wrote on X.</p>

<p>Singh further revealed that he not only received the contaminated salad but his drink was faulty too.</p>

<p>Making things worse, he further claimed that his request to get a full refund was also declined by the app, allowing him only a partial refund.</p>

<p>However, Swiggy later offered Singh a full refund.</p>

<p>In a response to Singh’s post, Swiggy called the incident ‘terrible’.</p>

<p>The post generated much engagement on social media, with its comment box inundated with responses from users having faced similar hygiene issues.</p>

<p>"Swiggy should blacklist the restaurant ASAP ! I've also encountered food from this restaurant that was either reheated or spoiled," wrote one user. "No surprise to me. Happened already. Worst hygiene, care and responsibility," shared another.</p>

<p>The incident comes days after a woman shared a similar experience on social media after she ordered a bowl of chicken fried rice from another food delivery company Zomato.</p>

<p>The woman, also from Bengaluru, had claimed that her bowl contained a dead cockroach.</p>

<p>“Absolutely disgusted with my order! This is completely unacceptable and unhygienic. Need an immediate resolution,” she wrote in her post.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


User Dhaval Singh took to social media platform X to share his experience with others and warn them. He also shared a video from his X account, showing the snail resting on the vegetable salad that he ordered from local restaurant chain Leon Grill.

User Dhaval Singh took to social media platform X to share his experience with others and warn them. He also shared a video from his X account, showing the snail resting on the vegetable salad that he ordered from local restaurant chain Leon Grill. Never ordering from @LeonGrill ever again!@SwiggyCares do whatever you can to ensure this shit doesn't happen to others... Blr folks take note Ughhhhh pic.twitter.com/iz9aCsJiW9 — Dhaval singh (@Dhavalsingh7) December 15, 2023 × "Never ordering from @LeonGrill ever again!" he wrote in his post, adding, "Swiggy, do whatever you can to ensure this sh*t doesn't happen to others... Bengaluru folks take note," he wrote on X. Singh further revealed that he not only received the contaminated salad but his drink was faulty too. Making things worse, he further claimed that his request to get a full refund was also declined by the app, allowing him only a partial refund. However, Swiggy later offered Singh a full refund. In a response to Singh’s post, Swiggy called the incident ‘terrible’. The post generated much engagement on social media, with its comment box inundated with responses from users having faced similar hygiene issues. "Swiggy should blacklist the restaurant ASAP ! I've also encountered food from this restaurant that was either reheated or spoiled," wrote one user. "No surprise to me. Happened already. Worst hygiene, care and responsibility," shared another. The incident comes days after a woman shared a similar experience on social media after she ordered a bowl of chicken fried rice from another food delivery company Zomato. The woman, also from Bengaluru, had claimed that her bowl contained a dead cockroach. “Absolutely disgusted with my order! This is completely unacceptable and unhygienic. Need an immediate resolution,” she wrote in her post. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: Cringe alert! Snail seen moving in salad ordered from Swiggy

Research says that you need to avoid certain salads for antibiotic treatment otherwise it can increase the risk of drug resistance soup bugs in your body. Researchers from the University of Nottingham have now found in their study that certain vegetables have bacteria which has antibiotic-resistance genes. These genes are found in the DNA molecules of bacteria and can be transferred from cell to cell allowing the germs to build up resistance.

A new study says vegetable salads can create antibiotic resistance

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