The label says “washed,” “triple-washed,” or “ready to eat.” Your schedule says dinner needs to be on the table now. Still, as you open that bag of lettuce, one question creeps in: should you wash it again just to be safe?

Surprisingly, not necessarily.

Packaged leafy greens specifically labeled “ready to eat,” “washed,” or “triple-washed” are generally intended to be eaten straight from the package without additional washing. Rewashing them at home doesn’t guarantee that potentially harmful microorganisms will be removed.

There’s another detail many people overlook. Your kitchen itself can introduce contamination. A colander, sink, countertop, or your hands can transfer germs to greens that were already commercially washed. That’s especially possible if those surfaces recently came into contact with raw meat, poultry, or other contaminated foods.

That doesn’t mean packaged salads are completely risk-free. No washing process can make raw produce sterile. Proper refrigeration matters, and you should pay attention to use-by dates and recalls. Throw away greens that appear spoiled or have been stored improperly.

For lettuce and other produce that isn’t labeled as prewashed or ready to eat, rinse it thoroughly under clean running water before eating. There’s generally no need to use soap or household cleaners on produce.

So that “triple-washed” label isn’t simply decoration. If the package clearly says the greens are ready to eat, another trip through your kitchen sink usually isn’t necessary.

Sometimes doing less really can be the safer—and easier—choice.