Nine people from four different Sydney households have required medical attention after experiencing toxic reactions linked to eating packaged spinach. Authorities believe the product, Riviera Farms branded baby spinach, may have been accidentally contaminated.
NSW Health advises the spinach was sold through Costco outlets and carried an expiry date of December 16.
Riviera Farms says it has been in contact with state and federal food regulators after immediately advising customers to withdraw a spinach product from shelves following reports of contamination.
“Early reports are that our one-kilogram plastic tubs of spinach with a best-before date of 16/12/2022 may be contaminated with a weed which can have health consequences if consumed,” a spokesman said.
“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 says there is no suggestion any other products have been impacted.
More investigations
NSW Health is working with the NSW Food Authority, as well as other jurisdictions, to investigate the issue further.
To date, NSW Health has identified nine people from four separate and unrelated households across Sydney who have required medical attention after developing poisoning soon after eating the product.
For more information: health.nsw.gov.au