One of the products that Coles has recalled as a result of contamination.
Coles became the fourth supermarket to recall its spinach products on Saturday. Eleven items were withdrawn in Victoria and other states as a precaution.
Recalled products include:
• Coles Baby Spinach 60 grams, expiry date 23 December (NSW ONLY)• Coles Lettuce Spinach 120 grams, expiry date 23 December (NSW ONLY)• Coles Salad Family Spinach 280 grams, expiry date 23 December (VIC ONLY)• Coles Chef Tender Leaf Blend 150 grams, expiry date 22 December (VIC, NSW, SA, NT)• Coles Australian Salad Family Baby Leaf Blend 300 grams, expiry date 22 of December (VIC, NSW, SA, NT)• Coles Kitchen Green Goddess Salad 300g, expiry date 17-23 December (NSW, ACT, VIC, QLD)• Pumpkin and Walnut Fetta Salad from Coles Kitchen 265g Ex 17-23 Dec (NSW, ACT, VIC, QLD)• Coles Kitchen Chicken BLT Salad 240g Ex 17-23 Dec (NSW, ACT, VIC, QLD)• Coles Kitchen Smoked Mexican Salad 280 grams, expiry date December 17 to 23 (NSW, ACT, VIC, QLD)• Coles Kitchen Salads Green Goddess Salad 250 grams s, expiry date December 17 to 23 (NSW, ACT, VIC, QLD)• Coles Kitchens Egg and Spinach Pots 100 grams, use -by date December 17 to 23 (NSW, ACT, VIC , QLD)
“No other Coles prepackaged spinach or salad products are affected by this recall,” the company said in a statement.
The recalls are believed to be related to Riviera Farms spinach.
Riviera Farms said it appeared the spinach, grown in Victoria, had been “contaminated with a weed that may have health consequences if consumed”.
“Riviera Farms notified authorities immediately after being alerted by one of our retailers and we will continue to work closely with health and food regulators as investigations continue,” the company said in a statement posted on its website.
In an update Saturday, Riviera Farms said it had contacted 20 customers and advised them to “recall potentially contaminated spinach products from their shelves and advise their own customers to do the same.”
“Riviera Farms can confirm that on Thursday and Friday we contacted all 20 of our spinach customers by phone, in writing or both,” he said.
“Riviera Farms’ only major direct retail customer is Costco.”
Dr Danny Csutoros, one of Victoria’s acting deputy health directors, said baby spinach was not safe to eat and should be discarded as symptoms appeared within hours of consuming the affected salad leaves.
“Initial investigations suggest accidental contamination of the affected baby spinach,” he said. “The Victorian Department of Health is working closely with other jurisdictions to investigate further.”
On Friday, there were 47 people in NSW who reported symptoms after eating spinach and at least 17 required medical help, according to the state’s health department.
Genevieve Adamo, from the NSW Poisons Information Centre, said more people were expected to develop symptoms.
“Many people have mild symptoms such as redness or dry mouth, some dizziness and malaise, but there are people who have more serious symptoms such as increased heart rate or fever, hallucinations and confusion, and even delirium . Adamo told Channel Nine’s Today programme.
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Adamo said the weed was a small leaf that “looks quite a bit like baby spinach, but contains other compounds that make people very sick.”
“It’s not something you can spray on and wash off. It’s plant matter inside the spinach and so you have to discard all batches,” he said.
Health authorities said anyone concerned about exposure to contaminated spinach products should contact the Victorian Poisons Information Center on 13 11 26, and people with severe symptoms should call triple zero.
With James Lemon and Sally Rawsthorne
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