DUBLIN, Ireland: Spinach and mixed leaf salad products are being recalled in Ireland after tests found the presence of listeria monocytogenes.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) confirmed that recall notices will be displayed in shops where the affected products were sold. Two separate food alerts were issued over the weekend for certain batches of branded spinach and mixed leaves. McCormack Family Farms, which detected the bacteria in its products, is carrying out the recall.

FSAI stressed that there is no link between this recall and the ongoing listeriosis outbreak connected to ready-to-heat meals currently under investigation.

Listeria infection can cause a range of symptoms, from mild flu-like illness to stomach issues such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. In rare cases, it can lead to serious complications. Pregnant women, babies, older people, and anyone with a weakened immune system are most at risk.

The illness has a long incubation period, meaning symptoms may not appear immediately. On average, it takes three weeks for symptoms to show, but in some cases, it can take anywhere from three to 70 days after eating contaminated food.

Retailers have been instructed to remove the affected batches from their shelves and display recall notices where customers can see them. Wholesalers and distributors must also contact their customers, recall the products, and pass on the recall notices to retailers.

The FSAI has advised caterers not to use the affected spinach and mixed leaves. Consumers are also being urged not to eat the recalled products and to check any products they may have already purchased.