Urgent recall of 40 varieties of bagged spinach due to traces of deadly listeria

Health officials warned against more than 40 varieties of bagged spinach after some were found to contain the deadly bacteria listeria.

New York-based Solata Foods LLC has recalled seven brands of its 8-ounce bags of “fresh spinach” because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the bacteria that causes listeria.

The brands mentioned were Solata, Gaia, Full Circle, Farmer Direct, Uncle Vinny’s, Bogopa and Bulk. The chart below shows all affected products.

According to the FDA, the products were distributed to local stores in the Newburgh, New York, area, although the agency did not specify which ones. Many are also distributed through online grocery stores such as Instacart.

All packages have lot numbers #40606 and 11006 on the packaging and an expiration date of 20-06-24 and 24-06-24.

No illnesses have been reported.

The contamination was discovered after sampling by New York State Department of Agriculture and Market Food Inspectors and analysis revealed Listeria monocytogenes in a nine-ounce bag of Bogopa ‘Fresh Spinach’.

Listeria, also called Listeriosis, is a serious infection caused by eating food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

It can be found in moist environments, soil, water, decaying vegetation and animals, and can survive refrigeration and other food preservation measures.

Many foods can harbor the bug, but it is most commonly found in unpasteurized milk, soft cheeses, and prepared foods, such as pre-packaged sandwiches.

Cooked shellfish, cured meats and fish, including sushi and pre-cut fruit, also pose a risk.

Most people who eat food contaminated with Listeria do not become seriously ill. But in some cases it can cause confusion and seizures, miscarriages in pregnant women, and even death.

This can happen when the infection spreads beyond the intestines and can affect the central nervous system, leading to numbness and seizures.

The CDC estimates that 1,600 Americans become infected with listeria each year, and about 260 die.

Production of the affected product has been halted and customers who purchased any of the affected products are urged to return them to the store where they purchased them for a full refund.