Video of huge spider emerges in Woolies lettuce, on same day products urgently recalled

A woman has uploaded a video of a giant spider inside a packet of Woolworths lettuce.

It came on the same day the chain, along with Coles, issued an urgent national recall of popular salad products after at least 28 adults fell ill in a major salmonella outbreak.

The video of the spider, posted to Woolworth’s Facebook page by Zoe Perry, was accompanied by the comment: “Is this what's actually behind the "salmonella" callbacks?”

Woolworth’s promptly responded to the post, commenting: “We're very concerned about this Zoe, and take incidents like this very seriously.”

The supermarket chain asked Ms Perry to send them her contact details privately so that they could follow-up on the matter.

Two people were taken to hospital as a result of the salmonella outbreak, Victoria's Department of Health and Human Services Senior Medical Advisor Dr Finn Romanes told media on Thursday.

The DHHS is warning Victorians against consuming a selection of pre-packaged lettuce products after tests of three products from two batches tested positive for Salmonella anatum bacterium.

The brands affected include Coles 4 leaf mix, Woolworths salad mix, Supa-Salad Supa-mix, and Wash & Toss salad mix - anyone with these products should return them or throw them out.

Pre-packaged lettuce products from Victorian company Tripod farmers have been linked to several cases of infection.

“Normally we only see a handful of cases of this strain each year, but so far this year there have been 28 adult cases of Salmonella anatum – mostly adults - notified to the Department," DHHS Senior Medical Advisor Dr Finn Romanes said.

“As a result of following up the food histories of a number of people we have discovered a common source - the Tripod Farmers lettuce,” Dr Romanes said.

Tripod Farmers, which exports produce from Western Melbourne, Gippsland and Sunraysia regions to across Australia and overseas, is issuing a voluntary recall.

An inspection of the Tripod Farmers premises has been undertaken, said a DHHS a statement released on Thursday afternoon.

Woolworths on Thursday confirmed it would be recalling five salad products with use by dates on or before 14 February in NSW, Victoria and ACT only. These include:

100g bag Select Fresh Cut Baby Spinach
100g bag Select Fresh Cut Salad Mix
100g bag Select Fresh Cut Baby Rocket
Loose Baby spinach
Loose Mescluin

Coles also confirmed to Yahoo7 News that the following pre-packed lettuce products have been recalled in Victoria, NSW, NT and SA:

Pre-packed bags of Coles Spinach 60g
Pre-packed bags of Coles Rocket 60g
Pre-packed bags of Coles Rocket 120g
Pre-packed bags of Coles Spinach & Rocket 120g
Pre-packed bags of Coles Spinach 120g
Pre-packed bags of Coles 4 Leaf Salad 120g
Pre-packed bags of Coles 4 Leaf Salad 200g

Other recalled products include the following (though the list is not exhaustive):

Wash N Toss Watercress 100gm
Wash N Toss Sorrell 50gm
Wash N Toss Baby Cos 100gm
Wash N Toss Spinach 100gm
Wash N Toss Salad Mix 100gm
Wash N Toss Rocket 100gm
Wash N Toss Kale 100gm

SupaSalad 180gm
SupaSalad Green Coral 180gm
SupaSalad Supamix 1kg
SupaSalad Spinach 1kg
SupaSalad Rocket 1kg
SupaSalad Baby Cos 1kg
SupaSalad Spinach 180g

Food Standards Australia and New Zealand statement on pre-packaged salad leaves:

Tripod Farmers Pty Ltd has recalled the following products from Coles, Bi-Lo (VIC, NSW, SA, NT & ACT), Woolworths (ACT, VIC & NSW) and trade outlets in NSW, QLD, VIC, SA, NT and ACT due to microbial (salmonella) contamination. Food products contaminated with salmonella may cause illness if consumed. Consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice. The products can be returned to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Salmonella is a form of gastroenteritis, and can affect anyone.

Symptoms usually occur between six to 72 hours after the bacteria is ingested.

Common symptoms include diarrhoea, fever, headache, stomach cramps, and vomiting, and dehydration, especially among infants and the elderly.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SALMONELLA

News break – February 4