Baby spinach recall: Riviera Farms fought poor weed control allegations in court in 2018
The farm that supplied the baby spinach that left scores of Australians hallucinating previously faced court claims it had poor weed control, it has been revealed.
Victorian grower Riviera Farms confirmed on Thursday that the toxic weed thornapple had mixed with a spinach crop causing almost 200 people to suffer hallucinations, delirium and other symptoms of poisoning.
It has emerged Riviera Farms was accused of poor weed control and other deficient farming practices in documents lodged to the Supreme Court of Victoria in 2019 as part of legal action taken by the farm against herbicide makers.
The grower behind the baby spinach poisonings faced previous claims of poor weed control, court documents show (pictured stock image of spinach crop)
The documents were part of the defence made by agrochemical companies Syngenta and Accensi against a lawsuit brought against them by Riviera Farms alleging their contaminated herbicides made carrot and corn crops unusable.
An agricultural expert hired by the lawyers representing Syngenta disputed the claim by Riviera Farms saying that several paddocks demonstrated poor weed control, irrigation and chemical hygiene practices as well as being waterlogged.
Victorian law firm Lander and Rogers lodged documents where the expert identified the ‘presence of weeds and other invasive plants in the fields’ in which the crops were planted.
Spoiled produce from Riviera Farms in 2018 ‘was also caused by or contributed to by its own negligence and failure to take reasonable care’, according to the documents seen by The Age.
The case was settled by mediation with neither side admitting liability.
A Riviera Farms spokesperson told The Age the allegations in the 2018 court case were not substantiated in court.
‘The suggestion of some misconduct on the part of Riviera (or its management) in relation to the Supreme Court proceeding you have referred to [is] unwarranted and is of course denied in the strongest possible terms,’ the spokesperson said.
Riviera Farms’ baby spinach products (pictured) have been recalled after 200 people complained of poisoning symptoms, including hallucinations
SPINACH SYMPTOMS TO LOOK OUT FOR:
Delirium or confusion
Hallucinations
Dilated pupils
Rapid heartbeat
Flushed face
Blurred vision
Dry mouth and skin
Fever
Riviera Farms alleged the herbicides had caused slow maturation of carrot and corn crops, with them stunted in size and showing ‘bleaching or burning’.
A Syngenta spokesperson told The Age the company could not comment for confidentiality reasons but said the case was ‘concluded to the satisfaction of everyone involved’.
In its statement on Thursday, Riviera Farms said thornapple, also known as jimsonweed, was the only culprit behind the poisonings and mass recall.
‘The investigations have not identified any other potential chemical, herbicide or other types of contaminant,’ the spokesperson said.
‘As per our original advice to media and clients on the evening of Thursday 15 December, no other Riviera Farms produce have been impacted by this weed.
‘As a precautionary measure, neighbouring crops of spinach are in the process of being destroyed.’
Almost 200 people including, many children have reported symptoms such as delirium or confusion, hallucinations, dilated pupils, rapid heartbeat, flushed face, blurred vision and dry mouth and skin after eating the spinach.
Riviera Farms said the toxic weed thornapple (pictured) has become mixed into its baby spinach products
One child had to be admitted to hospital in Queensland and at least 20 Victorians sought treatment in emergency departments while at least 60 people in NSW reported being unwell.
Riviera Farms said it had contacted all of its 20 baby spinach customers to issue the recall.
However, they said their only direct major retail customer was Costco.
Costco, Woolworths, Coles and Aldi have stripped Riviera Farm’s products from their shelves and a recall has been issued.
Woolworths recalled two salad products containing the potentially contaminated spinach – Chickpea Falafel 290g (left) with use by dates of December 20 and 22 and Chicken Cobb Salad (right) 270g with use by dates of December 20
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.
RECALLED SPINACH PRODUCTS
COLES
Coles Baby Spinach 60g
Coles Lettuce Spinach 120g
Coles Salad Family Baby Spinach 280g
Coles Chef Blend Tender Leaf Blend 150g
Coles Australian Salad Family Baby Leaf Blend 300g
Coles Kitchen Green Goddess Salad 300g
Coles Kitchen Roast Pumpkin Fetta & Walnut Salad 265g
Coles Kitchen Chicken BLT Salad Bowl 240g
Coles Kitchen Smokey Mexican Salad 280g
Coles Kitchen Salads Green Goddess Salad 250g
Coles Kitchens Egg And Spinach Pots 100G
WOOLWORTHS
Woolworths Chicken Cobb Salad 270g with use by dates of December 20
Woolworths Chickpea Falafel 290g with use by dates of December 20 and December 22
ALDI
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
COSTCO
Bags of spinach sold in NSW, Victoria and the ACT with use by dates from December 16 up to and including December 28
RIVIERA FRESH
Riviera Farms Baby Spinach
FRESH SALAD CO
Fresh and Fast Stir Fry
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