8 weeks pregnant and worried about eating salad from a restaurant because of toxoplasmosis. should i avoid salad because if this? is it common?

Chill: If you are buying your food from a reputable place or eating at reputable establishments (most cities rate restaurants for cleanliness and codes compliance), it is unlikely you are going to get a disease from a salad. Although weird things occasionally do happen, you cannot go through this pregnancy freaked out about every "possible" exposure. Chill!