Fourth supermarket forced to recall spinach products

A fourth supermarket has been forced to issue a product recall due to potentially contaminated spinach which has caused around 50 people to fall sick, 17 of whom have received medical attention.

Coles is recalling 11 of its home-brand products containing baby spinach "as a precaution" across four states and two territories.

The products are sold in Coles Supermarkets, Coles Local, Coles Express and through Coles online across New South Wales, Victoria, ACT, Queensland, Northern Territory and South Australia.

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Coles is recalling 11 products containing baby spinach "as a precaution" across four states and two territories.

"Health authorities have advised that some spinach may potentially be contaminated with unsafe plant material," the company said on Saturday afternoon.

"Only the baby spinach products with the specific use-by dates detailed below are being recalled.

"No other Coles pre-packed spinach or salad products are impacted by this recall."

The following products with use-by dates between December 17 and December 23 have been recalled:

  • Coles Baby Spinach 60g
  • Coles Lettuce Spinach 120g
  • Coles Salad Family Baby Spinach 280g
  • Coles Chef Blend Tender Leaf Blend 150g
  • Coles Australian Salad Family Baby Leaf Blend 300g
  • Coles Kitchen Green Goddess Salad 300g
  • Coles Kitchen Roast Pumpkin Fetta & Walnut Salad 265g
  • Coles Kitchen Chicken BLT Salad Bowl 240g
  • Coles Kitchen Smokey Mexican Salad 280g
  • Coles Kitchen Salads Green Goddess Salad 250g
  • Coles Kitchens Egg And Spinach Pots 100g

Earlier, Aldi recalled 450g packets of The Fresh Salad Co-branded Fresh & Fast Stir Fry with use by dates of up to and including December 24, due to "potential contamination with unsafe plant material". The product was available for sale across Victoria.

Aldi supermarket with spinach product

Riviera Farms products were originally recalled from discount giant Costco on Thursday night after reports of people suffering hallucinations, amongst other symptoms, in NSW, before Woolworths issued a product recall for two of its salad varieties on Friday evening.

NSW Health has urged people not to eat the spinach and to throw it out immediately after reports of potential contamination with an "unsafe plant material".

Pratima Kafle told Today she couldn't stand properly after being affected.

"I feel like my whole body is numb," Kafle said.

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Supermarket giant Woolworths said their recalled items were sold across Victoria, New South Wales, ACT and Queensland.

A statement warned consuming these could cause illness and asked anyone with the two varieties to return them to stores for a full refund.

Woolworths salad varieties join 'hallucinogenic' spinach recall

These include:

  • Woolworths Chicken Cobb Salad 270g (ID 218366) with use by dates of December 20
  • Woolworths Chickpea Falafel 290g (ID 218371) with use by dates of December 20 and December 22

It comes as multiple states and territories are being impacted by the recall of the Riviera Farms-branded baby spinach, which is sold at discount giant Costco.

NSW Health advised people to not eat the product after nine people from four different households across Sydney required medical attention shortly after eating the greens.

Victoria Health released its own health alert, noting eight people had been made sick by the contaminated product.

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Woolworths salad varieties join 'hallucinogenic' spinach recall

ACT Health also issued an urgent recall but did not reveal if anyone had been poisoned.

An initial recall for the product with a best before date of December 16 was issued by NSW Health last night but the company has now expanded that to include products with a best before date of up to and including December 28 in 350g and 1kg containers.

"This is a precautionary measure and is an update on earlier advice where we stated that products with a best before date of 16 December 2022 were impacted," Riviera Farms said in a statement.

"It appears these products, which were grown on a farm in Victoria and shipped to stores in NSW, have been contaminated with a weed which can have health consequences if consumed."

Samples of the spinach have been sent to laboratories for testing.

The product is "not safe to consume" and people who still have it should throw it out, NSW Health said.

It's believed the products may be contaminated with a weed which can "have health consequences if consumed".

Anyone who is concerned about exposure to the spinach should call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26, and anybody experiencing severe symptoms should visit their nearest emergency department, or contact triple zero.

Symptoms include:

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

Earlier, Riviera Farms said it had been in contact with state health and federal food regulators yesterday after "immediately" advising its customers to withdraw the spinach product from the shelves.