www.foodsafetyselect.com - Food Safety Select
Posted 16/12/2022

A food recall has been issued in three states, following a number of severe toxic reactions to contaminated baby spinach.

A food recall has been issued in three states, following a number of severe toxic reactions to contaminated baby spinach.

A food recall has been issued in three states, following a number of severe toxic reactions to contaminated baby spinach.

The food recall involves Riviera Farms Baby Spinach (350 g and 1 kg) with all use-by dates ranging from December 16, 2022, to December 28, 2022, due to potential contamination with unsafe plant material.

The products were sold at Costco Wholesale in NSW, ACT, and Victoria.

So far, at least nine individuals from four different, unrelated households in Sydney have suffered severe reactions and been admitted to the hospital. 

Dr. Darren Roberts of the NSW Poisons Information Centre advised the Sydney Morning Herald, that those impacted were "very unwell."

“No one has died, so we’re very happy with that and we hope it remains that way, but these people are quite sick... to the point of marked hallucinations, where they are seeing things that aren’t there,” he said.

Reported symptoms so far include:

  • Delirium or confusion
  • Hallucinations
  • Dilated pupils
  • Rapid heartbeat.
  • Flushed face
  • Blurred vision
  • Dry mouth and skin
  • Fever

"As soon as we were advised of the possible weed contamination from one of our customers, we immediately advised them to remove our impacted spinach from their shelves, and contacted state health and federal food authorities," the company said.

"Riviera Farms has been in the business of providing fresh food since the 1880s, and we are saddened to confirm that we have likely had our first-ever significant contamination incident."

Those who are worried about consuming spinach can phone the Poisons Information Center at (13 11 26). 

Anyone experiencing unusual and severe symptoms has been advised to seek immediate medical attention at their nearest emergency department. 

Published by Food Safety Select Newsroom

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