BABY spinach – branded Riviera Farms and sold through Costco – was recalled yesterday following “toxic reactions”. Likewise today (December 17) recalls have been made to products sold in Woolworths and Coles.

Food Standards Australia and NZ warn the impacted spinach has use-by dates between December 16 and 28 and was sold through Costco in the ACT, NSW and Victoria.

Food Standards issued the recall of spinach due to “a number of cases of possible food-related toxic reactions in Australia,” following potential contamination with unsafe plant material.”

Symptoms can be severe, and include delirium or confusion, hallucinations, dilated pupils, rapid heartbeat, flushed face, blurred vision, dry mouth and skin, and fever.

UPDATE: Saturday, December 17:

​People were today advised not to eat Woolworths pre-packaged “Chicken Cobb Salad” and “Chickpea Falafel Salad” with specific use by dates.

The impacted products were sold through Woolworths and Woolworths Metro stores in ACT, NSW, QLD and Victoria.

The impacted products are:

• Woolworths Chicken Cobb Salad 270g (use by 20 December 2022)
• Woolworths Chickpea Falafel Salad 290g (use by 20 and 22 December 2022)

The products are not safe to consume and people who have these products should return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Coles supermarket chain is also recalling 11 own-brand products containing spinach with use-by dates between December 17 and December 23.

The brands were sold in Coles supermarkets, Coles Local, Coles Express and through Coles Online in NSW, VIC, ACT, NT, QLD and SA.

Coles says it is recalling the products listed below as a precaution. Only the baby spinach products with the specific use-by dates detailed below are being recalled. No other Coles pre-packed spinach or salad products are impacted by this recall.

The affected products are:

Coles Baby Spinach 60g
Coles Lettuce Spinach 120g
Coles Salad Family Baby Spinach 280g
Coles Chef Blend Tender Leaf Blend 150g
Coles Australian Salad Family Baby Leaf Blend 300g
Coles Kitchen Green Goddess Salad 300g
Coles Kitchen Roast Pumpkin Fetta & Walnut Salad 265g
Coles Kitchen Chicken BLT Salad Bowl 240g
Coles Kitchen Smokey Mexican Salad 280g
Coles Kitchen Salads Green Goddess Salad 250g
Coles Kitchens Egg And Spinach Pots 100g

Anyone who is concerned about exposure should call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26.