Pink lettuce is linked to something called pink rib, which is when the “ribs” of lettuce heads turn from white to pink. This can happen when the lettuce is “overmature” or stored at high temperatures, a study published in Euphytica in August 2017 explains.Click to see full answer. Herein, can you still eat lettuce when it turns red?The redness of the roots of the lettuce is the result of oxidation, and the chlorophyll is oxidized. It is non-toxic and can be eaten. If you find that the roots of the lettuce or the edges of the leaves are red, the iron in the lettuce is oxidized, indicating that it is not fresh.Beside above, can you get sick from bad lettuce? People are still getting sick after eating romaine lettuce tainted with E. coli. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Wednesday that the outbreak has sickened 23 more people, bringing the total to 122 cases identified since April 10. Also to know, how can you tell if iceberg lettuce is bad? Although not a perfect test, your senses are usually the most reliable instruments to tell if your lettuce has gone bad. Some common traits of bad lettuce are discoloration, a moist texture and a rotten smell. Lettuce will first become limp and then the green color turns to brown or black.What does it mean when lettuce turns pink?Pink lettuce is linked to something called pink rib, which is when the “ribs” of lettuce heads turn from white to pink. This can happen when the lettuce is “overmature” or stored at high temperatures, a study published in Euphytica in August 2017 explains.