Consumers are under high food safety alerts during the Christmas season in Australia. Following a warning from health officials that a variety of salad and plant items may contain contaminated baby spinach, Australia’s largest retailers have issued an urgent recall.

After consuming the contaminated spinach, at least 11 residents of Victoria visited an emergency room. The symptoms include hallucinations, confusion, dilated pupils, rapid heartbeat, nausea, and vomiting. Numerous spinach products supplied in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, the ACT, Northern Territory, and South Australia have been recalled by Coles and Woolworths.

Coles is recalling 11 products that include baby spinach due to the possibility of plant contamination.  Pre-packaged spinach bags and salad kits are among the products that have been recalled.

Chicken Cobb Salad and Chickpea Falafel Salad are among the products that Woolworths has recalled.

With a use-by date of December 24, Aldi is recalling packages of Fresh Salad Co.’s Fresh and Fast Stir Fry. Victorian Aldi outlets offered the product for sale.

Riviera Farms branded baby spinach packets with use-by dates between December 16 and 28 are being recalled due to the possibility of contamination with hazardous plant components.

The affected products should be returned to the store where they were purchased in order to get a full refund. Consumers who are worried about their health are advised to consult a doctor. 

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