Australia: contaminated spinach could cause hallucinations

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Health authorities in Australia have stated that 9 individuals in Sydney had "toxic reactions" — including hallucinations — from a batch of spinach considered to contain an "accidental contaminant".

According to New South Wales Health, poisoned Riviera Farms spinach purchased at massive wholesaler Costco was the source of "possible food-related toxic reactions" that required medical care for four distinct families' members.

Initial research, according to health experts, indicates that the responses were brought on by "an accidental contaminant in the food product".

The health authority issued a warning that eating this spinach might result in "severe" side effects like delirium or confusion, hallucinations, a rapid heartbeat, and blurred vision.

According to officials, baby spinach purchased at Costco with a December 16 expiration date "is not safe to consume and people who have it should throw it out."

⚠️ Food Recall⚠️Coles Supermarkets Pty Ltd is recalling Coles Baby Spinach 60g (Use By 13 APRIL 22), 120g and 280g (Use By 13 APRIL 22 & 14 APRIL 22), due to potential microbial (Salmonella) contamination.

See the #foodrecall notice at: https://t.co/N19jYM1jLr pic.twitter.com/k5kfJzn1PH

— FoodStandardsAusNZ (@FSANZnews) April 12, 2022

The Sydney Morning Herald cited Dr. Darren Roberts, medical director of the NSW Poisons Information Centre, as adding that some patients continued to have symptoms more than a day after they first appeared.
 
Roberts said, "The patients that have been quite unwell have been to the point of marked hallucinations where they are seeing things that aren't there," adding that "they can’t give a good recount of what happened."
 
Moreover, Roberts noted that "no one has died, so we're very happy with that and we hope it remains that way, but these people are quite sick."

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