Major Australian supermarkets, including Aldi<\/strong>, Woolworths<\/strong>, Coles<\/strong>, and IGA<\/strong>, have issued an urgent recall<\/strong> of various spinach-based products following the detection of Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC)\u2014a bacteria that can cause serious health complications. The decision was taken after an alert issued by Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ), as reported by The Nightly<\/em>.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The STEC strain of E. coli can cause severe symptoms such as diarrhoea, anaemia, internal bleeding, and in some cases, kidney failure<\/strong>. The condition, known as Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome (HUS)<\/strong>, is particularly dangerous for vulnerable groups including children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FSANZ has advised consumers not to consume the affected products and to return them to the point of purchase for a full refund<\/strong>. Those experiencing symptoms are urged to seek medical attention immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The recall affects multiple product lines and use-by dates<\/strong>, spanning stores in Queensland, New South Wales, and the ACT. Here\u2019s a summary of key items:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FSANZ has issued a general health warning stating that consumers who have purchased these items should check use-by dates and avoid consuming affected batches. In addition to returning products, consumers may contact supermarket <\/a>customer service lines for more information:<\/p>\n\n\n\n