About 1,715 cartons of bunched spinach are being recalled today by Ippolito International of Salinas, Ca., because the vegetables may be carrying Salmonella, a bacteria linked to serious food poisoning.

According to the California Department of Public Health, the recalled spinach was harvested from September 1 to September 3 and distributed to food-service outlets, wholesale buyers, and retail stores in California, Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, as well as in British Columbia, Ontario and Manitoba in Canada, officials said.

Routine testing of the products after they were shipped to customers detected Salmonella, officials said, according to an Associated Press report.

The recalled cartons of bulked packaged bunched spinach are labeled "Queen Victoria" and "Tubby."

While there have so far been no related illnesses reported with the contaminated spinach, there is a risk of severe, even life-threatening illness from Salmonella poisoning in consumers. Each year in the United States, about 76 million people develop a form of food poisoning and about 5,000 people die due to complications caused by the condition.

Salmonella can cause serious infections, particularly in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Most healthy people who are infected with Salmonella experience only mild to moderate symptoms including fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

However, in some cases, a Salmonella infection can reach the bloodstream and produce more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (also called infected aneurysms), endocarditis, and arthritis.


Source: attorneyatlaw.com