Salmonella outbreak linked to lettuce sold at Coles and Woolworths

CUSTOMERS have been warned against eating prepacked lettuce and spinach sold at Coles and Woolworths after an outbreak of salmonella.

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CUSTOMERS have been warned against eating prepacked lettuce and spinach sold at Coles and Woolworths across the nation after an outbreak of salmonella.

The lettuce, grown and distributed by the Victorian company Tripod Farmers, has been linked to at least 28 cases of salmonella on Thursday, with the number jumping to a total of 54 cases on Friday.

But authorities fear the number could rise with more states affected, including NSW, South Australia and the Northern Territory.

A recall has been issued for brands such as Coles 4 Leaf Mix, Woolworths salad mix, SupaSalad Supamix and Wash N Toss salad mix.

All these products have best before dates leading up to and including February 14.

Coles has released a statement, saying Western Australia, Queensland and Tasmania are not affected.

Some pre-packaged Coles and Woolworths lettuce is being recalled.

Pre-packaged Coles lettuce products with use-by dates up to and including February 11 are affected, but those with a use-by date on or after February 12 are safe.

Whole lettuces are not affected, Coles said.

The company is also working with the health department to try to find out how the lettuce became contaminated.

NSW Health advised that there are currently no reported cases of salmonella linked to the products north of the border, but advised anyone who had bought one of 24 salad mixes from the two major supermarkets with a best-before-date leading up to February 14 to return it to the store, or throw it out.

The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services Senior Medical Advisor Dr Finn Romanes said he expected more cases to emerge.

“We know that the lettuce products involved, that there are a number of products, and that the distribution of those products is very widespread particularly in Victoria,” he said.

“When we identify an outbreak of salmonella, usually the people, or the cases that we’re aware of are the tip of an iceberg,” he said.

The recall comes just weeks after almost 100 people were reportedly struck down with food poisoning after eating chicken schnitzel rolls from a south Sydney bakery.

Salmonella is a form of gastroenteritis, and can affect anyone. Symptoms usually occur between six to 72 hours after the bacteria is ingested.

The most common symptoms include: diarrhoea, which may contain blood or mucous; fever; headache; stomach cramps; nausea; vomiting, and dehydration, especially among infants and the elderly.

Shelves cleared out at Coles after the national recall today. Picture: Ellen Smith

Full list of recalled products:

Woolworths Spinach 100gm

Woolworths Rocket 100gm

Woolworths Salad Mix 100gm

Wash N Toss Watercress 100gm

Wash N Toss Sorrell 50gm

Wash N Toss Baby Cos 100gm

Wash N Toss Spinach 100gm

Wash N Toss Salad Mix 100gm

Wash N Toss Rocket 100gm

Wash N Toss Kale 100gm

Coles Spinach 60gm

Coles Rocket 60gm

Coles Rocket 120gm

Coles Spinach and Rocket 120gm

Coles Spinach 120gm

Coles 4Leaf 120gm

Coles 4Leaf 200gm

SupaSalad 180gm

SupaSalad Green Coral 180gm

SupaSalad Supamix 1kg

SupaSalad Spinach 1kg

SupaSalad Rocket 1kg

SupaSalad Baby Cos 1kg

SupaSalad Spinach 180kg