Following its initial recall issued on July 15 for a variety of salad greens that may be contaminated with Salmonella, BrightFarms has now expanded the recall to include baby spinach because it too may be contaminated with the bacteria.
The affected baby spinach was produced at BrightFarms' Rochelle, Ill., greenhouse farm, and sold in Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana, and Michigan at retailers such as Mariano's Fresh Markets, Walmart, Strack Van Till, Sullivan's Foods, Caputo's, Jewel-Osco, Pick 'n Save, Metro Market, Copps, and Tadych's, as well as other locations.
The spinach was packaged in 4-ounce and 8-ounce clear plastic clamshells with a best-by date of July 26, which is now past expiration. The affected UPC codes are 5706200439 and 5706200449.
In the July 15 recall, BrightFarms recalled salad greens, including its Nutrigreens, Butter Crisp, Harvest Crunch, Mighty Romaine, 50/50 Spring & Spinach, Spring Crunch, Spring Mix, and Sunny Crunch products.
The recalled produce was sold in Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Indiana, and has an expiration date of July 29. It was sold in 3-ounce, 4-ounce, and 8-ounce clear plastic clamshell packages.
Consumers who purchased the recalled spinach or other greens should discard them or return them to the place of purchase for a refund. Questions can be directed to 1-866-857-8745 from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m EDT or by email at [email protected] with the subject line: Recall.
BrightFarms said it issued the recall “out of an abundance of caution” after it received reports of 11 consumer illnesses that may be linked to its products during the month of June. No other products are affected by the recall, according to the company.
BrightFarms also said it has “already begun taking steps to enhance their already rigorous food safety protocols, including testing all products produced in its Rochelle facility for exposure to Salmonella prior to distribution.”
Salmonella infections can cause serious and fatal illnesses in young children, elderly adults, and people with weakened immune systems. Others can suffer from fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In rare cases, Salmonella infections can cause arterial infections, endocarditis, and arthritis.
Spinach might be packed with nutrients but it's also filled with pesticides too. Photo: Pixabay
