Asia / Australasia
Spinach recall in Australia after dozens struck down with ‘scary hallucinations’
- More than 160 people have reported potentially toxic reactions such as blurred vision, breathing difficulties and dizziness after eating baby spinach
- Australia’s food standards authority issued a recall for 13 spinach-based food items. The cause of the contamination has yet to be publicly identified
More than 100 people in Australia have reported hallucinations, delirium and other mind-altering reactions after eating baby spinach that appears to have been contaminated by a mystery plant, officials in the state of New South Wales said.“They’re unable to see properly, they’re confused, they’re having hallucinations,” Darren Roberts, the medical director of NSW Poisons Information Centre, said on Monday of the victims in an interview on local television, according to the New York Times.
“And we’re talking about scary hallucinations; it’s nothing that’s fun.”
Customers shop for vegetables at a supermarket in Sydney. Officials have not confirmed where the spinach was grown or how it was contaminated. Photo: Xinhua
Those who ate the contaminated spinach described feeling dizzy or unable to stand, having blurred vision, and struggling to breathe normally, the Washington Post reported.
One woman said she experienced full-body numbness after consuming a seven-ounce (200g) serving of cooked spinach.
Other reported symptoms include confusion, dilated pupils, rapid heartbeat, flushed face, and dry mouth and skin, health officials said.
As of Sunday, a total of 164 people had reported potentially toxic reactions after eating baby spinach and at least 42 sought medical attention for their symptoms, according to the latest update by NSW Health.
Officials have not confirmed where the spinach was grown and how it was contaminated, but they said it is likely a single plant source that caused the issue.
They sent a sample of the contaminant plant to laboratories for testing, but have not yet released results to the public.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand has since recalled 13 spinach-based food items, including:
- Riviera Fresh – Riviera Farms Baby Spinach
- Fresh Salad Co – Fresh and Fast Stir Fry
- Woolworths – Chicken Cobb Salad and Chickpea Falafel Salad
- Coles – Spinach, Chef Blend Tender Leaf, Baby Leaf Blend, Kitchen Green Goddess Salad, Kitchen Chicken BLT Salad Bowl, Kitchen Roast Pumpkin, Fetta & Walnut Salad, Kitchen Smokey Mexican Salad, Kitchen Egg and Spinach Pots
This article was first published on Insider
