Headaches after eating salad?

I’ve noticed a pattern lately: whenever I eat a salad from Subway, grab something from McDonald's, or pick up one of those pre-packaged salads from Walmart or Kroger, I end up with a headache or even nausea. It isn't just the prepared meals, either; sometimes even just eating a tomato, a bell pepper, or a cucumber—or occasionally an apple—bought from those same grocery stores triggers it. And don't worry, I always wash my produce first. I never used to link my headaches to food, but after eating several pre-made salads over the last few days, the timing is too consistent to ignore. I suspect there might be some kind of chemical preservative or cleaning agent involved, or maybe even something related to GMOs.
A friend mentioned his dad gets an instant headache every time he eats tomatoes from Kroger.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this?

shadoweagle13 said:Whenever I eat a salad from Subway, grab something from McDonald's, or pick up one of those pre-made salads at Walmart or Kroger, I end up with a headache. Sometimes I even feel nauseous. It’s the same thing if I just eat a tomato, some bell pepper, a cucumber, or even an apple bought from those grocery stores. And obviously, I wash everything before eating it. I never used to link my headaches to food, but over the last few days, I've had several pre-packaged salads and the symptoms start immediately. I'm guessing it's some kind of chemical they use to wash or preserve the produce. Honestly, I'd even suspect GMOs.
A friend told me his dad gets an instant headache whenever he eats tomatoes from Kroger.

Has anyone else dealt with stuff like this?

Not really, but you never know. Only buy salad if you actually see worms or slugs in it. If it's crawling with pests, you know it's not fit for humans. Consider yourself lucky you have that intuition. 😲
You sound like a budding anti-globalist guru.

Maybe you could try cutting back on those pre-packaged salads from places like Kroger and instead head to the local farmers market on Saturdays?

wiredstag30 said:You never truly know. Only buy salad if you can actually spot the worms or slugs in there. If it’s just a pile of filth, you know it isn't fit for human consumption. Consider yourself lucky that you have such an eye for detail. 😲
You sound like you're trying to frame me as some kind of anti-globalization guru.

Exactly. 😁

Nancy Brooks62 said:Maybe it’s time to stop relying on those pre-packaged salads and grab everything from Kroger. If you started hitting up the local farmers' market on Saturday mornings instead, you'd see a massive difference.

I usually have the chance to bring my own produce and eggs back from the Midwest. I try to make it a regular habit whenever I head out that way, but sometimes too much time passes between trips, so I end up just grabbing whatever I need at the local markets in New York City. That idea about setting up a farmers market is actually brilliant. 🙂

shadoweagle13 said:I actually have the chance to bring home fresh produce and eggs from the Midwest. I try to do it whenever I visit, though if too much time passes, I just end up buying everything in New York City. That idea about the farmers market seems like a great one. 🙂

Well, you see, 🙂 even if you had thought of that yourself 😂 🤣

Nancy Brooks62 said:Well, there you go. 🙂 It’s funny how you’re only just now realizing that. 😂🤣

It isn't exactly groundbreaking insight. Anyway, what's actually in that food? Honestly, why would anyone bother with it if it wasn't decent? Even out in the Midwest, they're using GMOs; nothing is ever truly "fresh from the farm" anymore.

shadoweagle13 said:It’s not exactly groundbreaking logic, but regardless, what’s actually in that food? I suppose anyone would avoid it if it wasn't quality. Even in the Midwest, things are often genetically modified; it isn't always as "fresh and local" as people claim.

I'm not really sure; I only make my way out to the Midwest when my family asks me to, or perhaps when I feel the need to visit them myself.😁

Nancy Brooks62 said:I can't say I know. I only head out to the Midwest when my family really needs me, or if I just feel like seeing them. 😁

So, do you end up driving back with a car so overloaded that you're practically sitting on the floorboards? 😁 🙂

shadoweagle13 said:So you're saying they'd just drive back with a ton of extra weight in the car and end up sitting on the floor? 😁 🙂

Not really, they weren't actually allowed to bring anything to me (when they visit my place); they either send it via FedEx or pack it up for me when they arrive and head back out to New York City.😂

You’re probably just allergic to one of those chemicals they use to treat produce. 🙂 Honestly, just steer clear of the brands and products that mess with you. That’s how I handle things when it comes to my meat and juices... 😁

Nancy Brooks62 said:Not really. They weren't allowed to bring anything to me when they visited. They either sent it via FedEx or just packed it up to handle personally during their next trip to New York City.😂

😂 They brought it, and they did a damn good job of it. 😛

melloworca6 said:You’re probably just allergic to one of those pesticides they use on produce. It happens. 🙂 I make it a rule to steer clear of brands and products that just don't sit right with me. It’s how I handle everything from the meat I buy to the juices I stock in my pantry. If a manufacturer feels off, I'm out. Simple as that. 😁

Which juices do you guys find hard to stomach?