‘Contaminated’ spinach causes hallucinations
Sickened consumers also suffer delirium or confusion, rapid heartbeat and blurred vision.
Daily TribuneSickened consumers also suffer delirium or confusion, rapid heartbeat and blurred vision.
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Health authorities in Australia have said nine people in Sydney suffered "toxic reactions" — including hallucinations — from a batch of spinach thought to contain an "accidental contaminant."
New South Wales Health said people from four different households needed medical attention following "possible food-related toxic reactions" caused by tainted Riviera Farms spinach bought at wholesale giant Costco.
The health authority warned of "severe" possible symptoms associated with consuming the spinach, including delirium or confusion, hallucinations, rapid heartbeat and blurred vision.
Officials say the baby spinach bought at Costco with an expiration date of 16 December, "is not safe to consume and people who have it should throw it out."
NSW Poisons Information Center medical director Dr. Darren Roberts was quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald as saying that some patients were still ill more than a day after the onset of symptoms.
"The patients that have been quite unwell have been to the point of marked hallucinations where they are seeing things that aren't there," he said. "They can't give a good recount of what happened."
"No one has died, so we're very happy with that and we hope it remains that way, but these people are quite sick."
