National recall of prepacked lettuce after salmonella outbreak

Up to 30 different types of pre-packaged and loose leaf lettuce mixes sold at Coles, Woolworths, Bi-Lo and a number of independent retailers around Australia have been recalled following a salmonella outbreak linked with the products.

The affected products, which were grown in Australia, are sold under the Coles, Woolworths, SupaSalad and Wash N Toss brands and come from a Victorian-based lettuce grower Tripod Farmers. A wide range of lettuce types have been affected and include both pre-packaged and loose-leaf products such as spinach, rocket, cos and mesculin. See the full list of affected products. 

The recall also extends to a range of Lite n' Easy meals which contain salad and there are reports of 7-Eleven sandwiches also being affected. 

So far this year, there have been 28 cases of salmonella poisoning reported to the Victorian health authorities and the food histories of those affected found a common source was the Tripod Farmers' lettuce.

The Victorian health authorities also tested two batches of the lettuce products and found three products positive for the salmonella anatum bacterium.

Tripod Farmers' website lists its growing regions as four locations across Victoria.

The affected products all have best-before dates leading up to and including 14 February. Anyone who has purchased one of these products should either return them to where they bought them or discard them, says Dr Finn Romanes, senior medical advisor for the Department of Health and Human Services.

Which pre-packaged lettuce products are affected?

Where was the lettuce sold?

Australian Capital Territory

Coles, Bi-Lo, Woolworths and some independent retailers (may include Foodworks stores, Aussie Farmers Direct, fruit and vegetable shops and markets).

New South Wales

Coles, Bi-Lo, Woolworths and some independent retailers (may include Foodworks stores, Aussie Farmers Direct, fruit and vegetable shops and markets).

Northern Territory 

Coles, Bi-Lo and some independent retailers (may include Foodworks stores, Aussie Farmers Direct, fruit and vegetable shops and markets).

Queensland

Independent retailers (may include Foodworks stores, Aussie Farmers Direct, fruit and vegetable shops and markets).

South Australia

Coles, Bi-Lo and some independent retailers (may include Foodworks stores, Aussie Farmers Direct, fruit and vegetable shops and markets).

Tasmania and Western Australia

No products have been affected.

Victoria

Coles, Bi-Lo, Woolworths and some independent retailers (may include Foodworks stores, Aussie Farmers Direct, fruit and vegetable shops and markets).

Symptoms of salmonella poisoning

The most common symptoms of salmonellosis will usually occur between six to 72 hours after the bacteria is ingested and include diarrhoea, fever, headache, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and dehydration.

• Get food safety tips in How to avoid food poisoning