From hallucinogenic spinach to contaminated salad: here's why there's alarm over these veggies

Australians are being advised to check their fridge and toss away any salads and spinach that form part of two separate product recalls.

Urgent recalls have been issued for packaged baby spinach from Riviera Farms and two types of Woolworths salads. Source: SBS News

KEY POINTS

• At least 47 people have experienced toxic reactions after consuming contaminated spinach.
• Consumers in every Australian jurisdiction, bar WA, are being told to throw out the recalled products.
• The symptoms to look out for include hallucinations, blurred vision and a fever.

A product recall over contaminated spinach leaves has now expanded to include four supermarkets and every Australia jurisdiction, excluding WA.

At least 47 people who consumed the contaminated spinach have experienced toxic reactions with symptoms such as hallucinations, blurred vision and a fever.

Coles has joined Woolworths, ALDI and Costco in pulling products off its shelves.

Here's what you need to know.

What items are being recalled?

Coles says it is pulling 11 spinach products from its shelves across six Australian jurisdictions: NSW, Victoria, ACT, Queensland, NT and SA.

The Coles-branded items cover spinach leaf packets and salad mixes, with expiry dates from 17 December and up to and including 23 December.

Eleven spinach products have withdrawn from circulation in Woolworths stores. The Coles-branded products cover spinach leaf bags as well as salad mixes. Credit: Food Standards Australia and New Zealand

Woolworths says two Woolworth-branded salad products have been recalled in stores in NSW, the ACT, Queensland and Victoria due to "unsafe plant material".

The items include the chicken cobb salad expiring on 20 December and chickepea falafel salad expiring by 20 or 22 December.

ALDI stores in Victoria have withdrawn a packaged salad mix - Fresh Salad Co Fresh and Fast Stir Fry.

CostCo on Friday pulled two packaged spinach leaf products in stores in NSW, the ACT and Victoria.

The Riviera Fresh Pty Ltd branded items are the 350g baby spinach leaf bag and the 1kg baby spinach box. The expiry dates on the packet range from 16 December up to and including 28 December.

What’s wrong with these greens?

Authorities believe the recalled spinach product, Riviera Farms-branded baby spinach sold at Costco, might have been accidentally contaminated, leading to people experiencing possible toxic reactions, including hallucinations and delirium.

Authorities have warned the product is not safe to consume and people who still have it stored at home should throw it out.

In a statement, Riviera Farms said it had issued a recall of all its baby spinach products with best-before dates up to and including 28 December as a precautionary measure.

A Woolworths branded chicken cobb product and falafel salad item have also been recalled due to contamination concerns. Credit: Food Standards Australia New Zealand

"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," it said.

Separately, Woolworths said some of its chicken cobb salad and chickpea falafel salad could cause sickness because of potential "unsafe plant material" contamination.

"Woolworths has initiated a recall due to a potential contamination with unsafe plant material," the company said in a statement on Friday night.

"Food products containing unsafe plant material may cause illness if consumed."

ALDI also cited "unsafe plant material" as the reason for the product recall from its stores.

Coles said the company apologises to its customers for "any inconvenience".

Customers can return the products to the place for purchase for a full refund.

Have people fallen sick?

Authorities believe the Riviera Farms-branded baby spinach, might have been accidentally contaminated, leading to people experiencing possible toxic reactions.

The full list of symptoms include: delirium or confusion, hallucinations, dilated pupils, rapid heartbeat, flushed face, blurred vision, dry mouth and skin, and a fever.

NSW Health said it was working with other jurisdictions to investigate the issue and by Friday evening 47 people had reported symptoms after eating baby spinach, at least 17 of whom had sought medical help.

What should I do if I get sick?

Customers concerned about exposure to the spinach should call the Poisons Information Centre, while anyone who experiences unusual and severe symptoms should seek immediate medical attention.