Satur Farms Recalls Some Baby Spinach, Mesclun: FDA

CUTCHOGUE, NY — Satur Farms, located on Alvahs Lane in Cutchogue, is voluntarily recalling specific lot numbers of baby spinach and mesclun "because it has the potential to be contaminated with salmonella," according to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.

Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems, the FDA said. Healthy individuals infected with salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea — which may be bloody — nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

In rare circumstances, salmonella infection can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and causing severe illnesses including arterial infections such as aneurysms, endocarditis and arthritis, the FDA said.

The product was distributed in New York and Florida through retail stores; the retail product is packed in plastic clamshell containers with the Satur Farms brand name in 5 oz., 10 oz., and 16 oz. sizes; and, for food service product, is packed in sealed poly bags including 2-1/2 lbs, 3#, 4#, 4 x 2.5#, 4 x 3#, the FDA said.

The lot numbers affected include Spinach Lot #18494, Spinach Lot #18513 and Mesclun Lot #18520, the FDA said.

There have been no reported illnesses, the FDA added.

The voluntary recall was initiated following routine sampling by Florida Department of Agriculture and New York State Department of Agriculture and markets; consumers who have purchased Satur Farms products with those lot numbers are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund, the FDA said.

Satur Farms requested all wholesalers and retailers to hold and discontinue selling the existing stock of this product, the FDA announcement said.

In response to the recall by Satur Farms, Whole Foods Market is voluntarily recalling various prepared foods items in eight states containing baby spinach because of the potential salmonella contamination, the FDA said.

The affected products, including salads, pizza, sandwiches and wraps, were sold at stores in Connecticut, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island, the FDA said.

Consumers who purchased items containing baby spinach from the salad bars or hot bars at Whole Foods Market locations in those states should discard items purchased through Jan. 23, 2019, the FDA said.

Products sold in New York Whole Food stores include Chicken Cordon Bleu Panini, the New England Cranberry Turkey Sandwich, the Paleo Mediterranean Tuna Salad, and the Spinach, Sauteed With Garlic CC, the FDA said.

An employee at Satur Farms said that owner Paulette Satur could not immediately be reached for comment Friday afternoon. Newsday reported that Satur said the contaminated sample was found in a container of 5 oz. spinach at a Florida Whole Foods; she also said it was the first recall in 22 years, according to the post.

For additional information from the FDA on the voluntary recall, click here and here.

Photo courtesy FDA.