Supermarkets recall prepacked lettuce after salmonella outbreak

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Salad mix pulled from shelves

Last updated: 05 February 2016

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?

Woolworths Baby Spinach 100g 14/02/2016 Woolworths Baby Rocket 100g 14/02/2016 Woolworths Gourmet Mix 100g 14/02/2016 Woolworths Fresh Cut Loose Baby Spinach 1kg 14/02/2016 Woolworths Fresh Cut Salad Loose Mesculin 1kg 14/02/2016 Wash N Toss Watercress 100g 14/02/2016 Wash N Toss Sorrel 50g 14/02/2016 Wash N Toss Baby Cos 100g 14/02/2016 Wash N Toss Baby Spinach 100g 14/02/2016 Wash N Toss Salad Mix 100g 14/02/2016 Wash N Toss Wild Rocket 100g 14/02/2016 Wash N Toss Kale 100g 14/02/2016 Coles Australian Baby Spinach 60g 11/02/2016 Coles Australian Baby Rocket 60g 11/02/2016 Coles Australian Baby Rocket 120g 11/02/2016 Coles Australian Spinach & Rocket 120g 11/02/2016 Coles Australian Baby Spinach 120g 11/02/2016 Coles Australian 4 Leaf Salad 120g 11/02/2016 Coles Australian 4 Leaf Salad 200g 11/02/2016 Supa Salad Supa salad 180g 14/02/2016 Supa Salad Green Coral 180g Supa Salad Supamix 1kg Supa Salad Spinach 1kg Supa Salad Rocket 1kg Supa Salad Baby Cos 1kg Supa Salad ALH 1kg Supa Salad Spinach 180g Clear Film Blend Clear Film Spinach Clear Film Baby Cos

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.