Wegmans Recalls Spinach Mix, Micro Greens Over Possible Salmonella Contamination

Wegmans Food Markets is issuing a voluntary recall of products containing micro greens, sweet pea leaves, and cat grass because of potential salmonella contamination. Photo courtesy of FDA

Wegmans Food Markets is issuing a voluntary recall of products containing micro greens, sweet pea leaves, and cat grass because of potential salmonella contamination.

In a news release, Wegmans said the recall was being done because “some of the soil the products were grown in, supplied to Wegmans Organic Farm by bio365 of Ithaca, New York, tested positive for Salmonella by the supplier.”

So far, no cases of illnesses have been associated with the recall, Wegmans said, adding that the recall is being initiated “out of an abundance of caution.”

The affected products were sold at various Wegmans stores across the United States in New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina.

The recalled items are:

• Wegmans Organic Farm & Orchard Micro Greens 1.75 oz with UPC 77890-25036  and use by dates of 12/17/22 and 12/24/22
• Wegmans Organic Baby Kale & Baby Spinach with Sweet Pea Leaves 5 oz with UPC 77890-52377 and a use by date of 12/20/22
• Wegmans Organic Farm & Orchard Cat Grass 1 EA with UPC 77890-50938 sold since 10/25/22

What is Salmonella?

Salmonella is bacteria that lives in the intestines of people and animals and can cause symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, although in some cases it can cause severe disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Individuals can contract salmonella in a number of ways, such as by consuming contaminated food or drinking contaminated water or touching animals that are infected.

Symptoms of salmonella poisoning typically begin within six hours to six days after infection and can last four to seven days, although some people do not display symptoms until several weeks after infection.

Children under the age of five, infants who are not breastfed, pregnant women, adults aged 65 and older, and those with a weakened immune system are more likely to develop a severe or fatal infection from salmonella, according to the CDC.

Health officials estimate salmonella causes around 1.35 million illnesses, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 420 deaths in the United States every year.

Wegmans is asking customers who have purchased the recalled items not to use them and instead return them to the store for a full refund.

Anyone who has consumed any of the recalled products and is displaying symptoms of salmonella infection should seek medical attention immediately.

USDA Proposes New Regulations for Salmonella in Chickens

According to the CDC, approximately one in every 25 packages of chicken sold at grocery stores contains salmonella bacteria.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture proposed new regulations that would require food processors to conduct regular salmonella testing on all chicken flocks at processing plants in order to reduce the amount of salmonella bacteria found in some raw chickens.

Those who fail to do so risk seeing the plants being shut down. Chicken products contaminated with higher-risk levels of salmonella would also not be allowed to be sold to the public.

However, some farmers have raised concerns that the new proposals would unfairly impact small poultry producers who simply do not have the means to ensure the products are 100 percent salmonella free all of the time.

“Our farmers and our processors cannot handle that chaos where a larger outfit absolutely can,” said Kristen Kilfoyle Boffo of Walden Local Meat in an interview with the Daily Yonder. “If [the larger companies] get a salmonella positive, they’re just going to water bath chill those birds and then send them to get cooked and be made into something else, and those birds will remain legal and it won’t really cause any disruption in their supply chain.”

“But for us, we’d be dead in the water,” Boffo added.