Australian Child Among Over 100 Sick From Contaminated Spinach, Recall Announced

Baby spinach grows in a field. David Paul Morris/Getty Images

An Australian child has been admitted to hospital after eating a toxic batch of spinach. 

The Queensland child is one of more than 100 people across Australia who have reported a possible food-related toxic reaction after eating the “Riviera Farms” branded baby spinach.

NSW Health on Dec. 17 said that 88 people in the state have fallen ill and at least 33 people have sought medical help after consuming the products.

“NSW Health advises the recalled products are not safe to consume and people who have purchased these recalled products should throw them out or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund,” it said in a statement.

Up to 11 Victorians have reported food poisonings from consuming the spinach, while Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Health are also looking into multiple possible cases.

Australian supermarket giant Coles has joined Woolworths, CostCo, Aldi, and Riviera Farms in recalling spinach products potentially contaminated with unsafe plant material, while Food Standards Australia New Zealand is working through the supply chain with relevant jurisdictions to ensure any other affected products are identified.

“Consumers should not eat the recalled products and should return them to the place of purchase for a full refund,” Food Standards Australia New Zealand said on Dec. 17.

Meanwhile, Queensland Health urged people “not to consume a number of baby spinach products following cases of possible food-related toxic reactions reported across the state.” 

The national recall includes bags of spinach sold through Costco in New South Wales, Victoria, and the ACT with use-by dates from Dec. 16 up to and including Dec. 28.

Recalled products are the following: