Baby spinach recall: Warning not to hunt for toxic 'nightshade' weed giving hallucinations, delirium

Australians seeking a recreational high are being urged not to try and find the plant that left more than 130 people suffering hallucinations, delirium and a rapid heartbeat after it was accidentally mixed in with baby spinach.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) issued a nationwide urgent recall on Sunday, advising Aussies across the country not to eat products containing the contaminated baby spinach. 

Shoppers were urged to throw away any recalled products containing the vegetable -  believed to have come from a farm in Victoria - including salads and stir-fry mixes, which were sold at Woolworths, Coles, Aldi and Costco. 

Chief scientist at Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens, Doctor Brett Summerell, believes the toxic plant is 'likely a nightshade'.  

'This is likely to be a nightshade. When young, they are just a few dark green leaves which is probably not that much different to spinach,' Dr Summerell told The Guardian.  

'You're harvesting all these leafy greens now at a very young age, sometimes it can be quite difficult [to identify].'

Nightshades are a family of flowering plants that ranges from annual and perennial herbs, vines, shrubs and trees and includes a number of crops, medicinal plants, spices, weeds, and ornamentals. 

A large number of nightshade species contain potent alkaloids and some are highly toxic causing a range of symptoms when ingested. 

Symptoms include delirium, confusion, hallucinations, dilated pupils, rapid heartbeat, flushed face, dry mouth and skin, blurred vision and fever. 

Dr Summerell warned Aussies not to search for a cheap high and avoid consuming the toxic products.

'People might be tempted to go out picking weeds thinking that they'll get some sort of high,' Dr Summerell said. 

'It's really important to remember yes, there might be a hallucinogenic side to this, but there's a whole lot of really horrible health issues. Whether it's a mushroom or whether it's the sorts of weeds, if you don't know what you're eating, don't eat it.'   

By Saturday evening, 88 people in NSW had reported symptoms after eating baby spinach, at least 33 of whom had sought medical help. 

Eight people have become sick after eating the contaminated spinach in Victoria, while a child was one of 11 Queenslanders affected by the contamination. 

The child was admitted to a Brisbane hospital on Saturday after eating a batch of the toxic baby spinach. The child spent the night before later being discharged. 

While some nightshades are toxic, plenty are completely safe.

Potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, bell peppers and chilli peppers are all common nightshades and have been eaten for hundreds of years. 

Food Standards Australia (FSANZ) revealed the contaminated spinach 'appears to have come from a single source' from a farm in Victoria.

'Investigations to date suggest the baby spinach has been contaminated with unsafe plant material, it does not appear to be linked to pesticides; however investigations are continuing,' an FSANZ spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.

'As soon as the containment was identified, FSANZ worked closely with the supplier, and affected businesses, who have been all cooperative in assisting with this recall matter.' 

Coles recalled several own-brand spinach products on Saturday with use by dates between December 17 and 22 from stores in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, NT, the ACT following after similar recalls in Tasmania at other supermarkets on Friday.

Aldi has also recalled 450 gram packets of The Fresh Salad co-branded Fresh & Fast Stir Fry with use by dates up to and including December 24 from Victorian stores. 

Woolworths recalled its Chicken Cobb Salad product with a use by date of December 20 and Woolworths Chickpea Falafel with use by dates of December 20 and 22 from stores in Victoria, NSW, the ACT and Tasmania. 

The urgent recalls for packaged baby spinach started after dozens of people reported worrying symptoms from eating the contaminated product.   

Riviera Farms said it had contacted all of its 20 baby spinach customers to issue the recall but said its only direct major retail customer was Costco.  

The national recall includes bags of spinach sold through Costco in NSW, Victoria and the ACT with use by dates from December 16 up to and including December 28.

Customers concerned about exposure to the spinach should call the Poisons Information Centre, while anyone who experiences unusual and severe symptoms should seek immediate medical attention.