Dole Baby Spinach Recall Issued Due to Salmonella Poisoning Risk

Certain Dole baby spinach products may carry a risk of salmonella food poisoning, resulting in a nationwide recall.

The FDA announced the Dole baby spinach recall on August 9, after random sample testing conducted by the Department of Agriculture in Michigan discovered the presence of salmonella bacteria. However, no illnesses or food poisoning outbreak has yet been linked to the products.

The recalled baby spinach products were packaged in clear 6-ounce bags with lot code W20308A and UPC code 0-71430-00964-2 and 10-ounce bags of Dole baby spinach clamshells packages with lot code W203010 and UPC code 0-71430-00016-8.

According to the recall notice, the impacted lots have a “Use-by” date of August 5, 2019 and should no longer be available on store shelves. However, officials are encouraging customers to check for the recalled baby spinach products in their homes and discard any remaining recalled items.

The spinach was distributed to various grocery stores in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin. A list of affected grocers and retailers was not been released.

Retailers and customers with additional questions or concerns regarding the recall are being asked to contact Dole Customer Center at 1-800-356-3111.

Salmonella food poisoning can cause mild to severe health consequences depending upon the individual. The bacteria may cause a healthy person to experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain whereas the young or elderly with weakened immune systems may face more severe consequences, including fatal infections.

Among pregnant women, salmonella poisoning may cause still births and miscarriages. Occasionally, salmonella infections may travel through the bloodstream and produce illnesses such as arterial infections, endocarditis and arthritis, which can cause severe to potentially life threatening health consequences.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates salmonella causes approximately 1.2 million illnesses annually. Of those cases, an average of 1,200 hospitalizations and 450 deaths occur every year from salmonella infections.