Kroger Spinach Recall Issued Due to Listeria Risk

Fresh Selections Spinach sold at Krogers and other food stores in at least 15 states has been recalled due to concerns about contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, which could cause serious and potentially life-threatening infections, especially among young children, the elderly and those with a compromised immune system.

The spinach recall was issued on September 19, impacting products with a “best used by” date of September 16. The spinach was sold at stores owned by Kroger Co., including Jay C, Owen’s Pay Less, Scott’s, Food 4 Less, Dillons, Baker’s, Gerbes and Kroger stores in various states.

According to a statement issued by Kroger, the contaminated spinach, which was supplied by NewStar Fresh Foods LLC, has been removed from store shelves and the company has implemented a recall notification system to contact customers via registered receipt messages or automated phone calls.

The recalled spinach was sold at stores under the following names in 15 different states:

• Kroger stores in Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, central and eastern Tennessee, and Michigan.
• Kroger, Jay C, Owen’s, Pay Less, Scott’s and Food 4 Less stores in Indiana, Illinois and eastern Missouri.
• Dillons, Baker’s, and Gerbes stores in Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska.

Listeria infections pose a serious risk to young children and the elderly due to a weakened immune system. For pregnant women, listeriosis can pose a serious risk of miscarriages and still births.

In many cases, individuals do not experience symptoms immediately, which may involve fever, muscle aches, nausea or diarrhea, In more severe cases, listeria poisoning may lead to meningitis, mental changes, brain abscesses, or death.

While listeria illness is one of the rarer forms of food poisoning, it frequently results in hospitalization and about a quarter of those who contract the illness die from the infection.

In September 2011, a major listeria outbreak was linked to contaminated cantaloupe, which resulted in at least 147 cases of food poisoning, including at least 33 deaths, making it one of the deadliest food poisoning outbreaks in U.S. history since 1924.