Spinach recall alert over safety fears as bagged products could be contaminated

Spinach

Health officials have issued a warning to consumers about certain bagged spinach products, which have been found to contain a deadly bacteria.

Over 40 varieties of bagged spinach are being recalled due to the presence of listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium that can cause the potentially lethal infection listeriosis, leading to flu-like symptoms, muscle aches, diarrhoea and stomach upset.

New York-based company Solata Foods LLC has recalled seven brands of its nine-ounce Fresh Spinach bags according to the FDA.

The affected brands include Solata, Gaia, Full Circle, Farmer Direct, Uncle Vinny's, Bogopa, and Bulk.

The recalled packages bear lot numbers #40606 and 11006 with an expiration date of 6/20/24 and 6/24/24. No illnesses have been reported at the time of publication.

Spinach

Production of the contaminated products has been halted and customers are advised to return any affected products to the store they were purchased from for a full refund.

The products were distributed to stores in the Newburgh, New York area and were also distributed online through supermarkets like Instacart.

The contamination was discovered during a sample testing by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Market Food Inspectors. The analysis revealed Listeria monocytogenes in a nine-ounce bag of Bogopa Fresh Spinach.

Listeria or Listeriosis symptoms can surface as late as two months after consuming contaminated food, according to health experts.

While many individuals can recover from the infection independently, some may need antibiotics and it can be deadly for certain groups including newborns, pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems.

Fatalities occur when the infection extends beyond the gut, potentially impacting the central nervous system leading to numbness and seizures. The CDC estimates that 260 Americans succumb to Listeria annually.

The bacteria causing the infection thrives in damp environments such as soil, water, decaying vegetation and animals. It also has the ability to survive food preservation methods like refrigeration.

Foods such as unpasteurised milk, soft cheese, and ready-to-eat foods like cured meat and sushi can harbour the bacteria.