Food safety officials have triggered an urgent nationwide recall of popular frozen spinach products over contamination concerns that could pose serious health risks to consumers.
Which Products Are Affected?
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has confirmed that specific batches of Sno-Pac frozen chopped spinach are being immediately withdrawn from sale. The affected products include:
- Sno-Pac Frozen Chopped Spinach (450g) with best-before dates of August 2026
- Sno-Pac Frozen Chopped Spinach (1kg) with best-before dates of August 2026
Why the Urgent Recall?
Routine testing detected the possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes in the frozen spinach. This bacteria can cause listeriosis, a potentially dangerous infection particularly risky for vulnerable groups including:
- Pregnant women and their unborn babies
- Elderly individuals
- People with weakened immune systems
- Infants and young children
What Should Consumers Do?
If you have purchased any of the affected Sno-Pac spinach products, the FSA advises:
- Do not consume the product
- Return it to the store where purchased for a full refund
- Contact Sno-Pac directly with any concerns
Major retailers including Tesco, Sainsbury's, and Waitrose have been instructed to remove the products from their freezers immediately.
Understanding Listeria Risks
Listeria infections can cause flu-like symptoms including high temperature, muscle aches, and gastrointestinal distress. In severe cases, it may lead to meningitis or septicemia. The infection can be particularly dangerous during pregnancy, potentially causing miscarriage or serious illness in newborns.
The FSA emphasizes that while the risk to healthy individuals is low, vulnerable groups should take extra precautions and immediately dispose of any affected products.
