Urgent Recall Issued for Spinach Products Over Listeria Concerns

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has announced an urgent recall of various spinach and mixed leaves products amid concerns over potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. This advisory affects items produced by McCormack Family Farms and sold in major supermarkets, including Tesco and SuperValu.

Consumers are strongly advised against consuming the affected products, which include several varieties of spinach and mixed leaves packaged for sale. This recall follows a similar alert issued just days prior, which involved nearly 200 pre-made meals and side dishes from brands such as Tesco Finest, The Happy Pear, SuperValu Signature Taste, and Centra Freshly Prepared.

The implicated spinach and mixed leaves items have specific best before dates ranging from July 23 to July 30, 2025. The details of the products are as follows:

– **McCormack Family Farms Energise Super Mix**: 100g, best before 29/07/2025; 30/07/2025
– **McCormack Family Farms Irish Spinach Leaves**: 100g, 200g, and 250g, best before 25/07/2025 to 31/07/2025
– **McCormack Family Farms Mixed Leaves**: 75g, best before 29/07/2025
– **McCormack Family Farms Baby Leaves**: 100g and 200g, best before 25/07/2025 to 30/07/2025
– **Tesco Mild Spinach**: 350g, best before 25/07/2025 to 31/07/2025
– **Egan’s Irish Baby Spinach**: 250g, best before 23/07/2025 to 27/07/2025
– **SuperValu Spinach (Unwashed)**: 250g, best before 28/07/2025 to 31/07/2025

According to the FSAI, symptoms of a Listeria monocytogenes infection can include mild flu-like symptoms, gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. In more severe cases, it can lead to serious complications, particularly among vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, infants, and individuals with weakened immune systems.

The FSAI further noted that the incubation period for listeriosis can range from an average of three weeks to as long as 70 days before symptoms appear.

Retailers are instructed to immediately remove the affected products from store shelves and display recall notices at points of sale, ensuring consumer awareness. Wholesalers and distributors must contact their customers to facilitate the recall and provide the necessary point-of-sale notices to retailers. Additionally, caterers are advised not to use any of the implicated products.

The urgency of this recall is underscored by the fact that as of July 22, 2023, there have been nine confirmed cases of listeriosis reported in Ireland, including a fatality linked to the infection.

For more detailed information, consumers can visit the Food Safety Authority of Ireland’s official website.