Dole recently announced that a number of its bagged spinach products are being recalled due to salmonella poisoning. According to the US Food and Drug Administration, the spinach tested positive for salmonella in random tests performed by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. You can read more about the recall this CNN article and this Boston.com article. Of particular note, this recall affects spinach that was sold in a number of states in the Northeast, including Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York. The bags affected will have a code of A27409B and A27409A. Additionally, the UPC code on affected bags reads 7143000976. Please go through your vegetable drawer in your refrigerator and check any bags that you may have for those codes. If you do have affected bag, you can either return it to your supermarket or throw the bag away. Most importantly, do not eat the spinach. If you already have eaten the spinach, seek medical care immediately.
Symptoms of salmonella poisoning include stomach pains, nausea, and gastrointestinal problems. Salmonella poisoning can be a serious threat, causing severe discomfort for 4-8 days in healthy adults who seek treatment quickly. However, the elderly and small children are at a greater risk of severe symptoms. 380 people on average die from salmonella in the US every year.
In this day and age, it is very important to eat healthy foods. I know that it is a top priority of mine to feed my family healthy, organic foods. However, we need to remain vigilant; sometimes what is marketed as a healthy option may be tainted by an outside source or disease. The FDA maintains a list of recalled items, which can be found on their website. Additionally, the government maintained websites like Recalls.gov provide up to date recall information for foods, vehicles, and other consumer items. Stay up to date and protect yourself and your family. If you have been injured by a product that has been recalled, Keches Law Group may be able to help. Please contact us so that we may discuss the possible remedies for your situation.