Fresh Produce Recall: Spinach and Mixed Leaves Withdrawn Over Listeria Detection

A separate food safety alert has been issued for fresh leafy greens following the detection of Listeria monocytogenes in products from McCormack Family Farms, marking a second major contamination incident this week.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland issued alert 2025.35 today for various spinach and mixed leaf products sold under multiple brands including the producer's own label, Tesco and Egan's. This recall is unrelated to the ongoing Ballymaguire Foods ready meals alert that has expanded over recent days.

Unlike the Ballymaguire situation involving possible contamination, McCormack Family Farms products are being recalled following confirmed detection of the dangerous bacteria in fresh produce lines.

Recalled products include:

• McCormack Family Farms Energise Super Mix (100g) with best before dates 29/07/2025 and 30/07/2025
• McCormack Family Farms Irish Spinach Leaves (100g, 200g and 250g) with best before dates from 25/07/2025 through 31/07/2025
• McCormack Family Farms Mixed Leaves (75g) with best before date 29/07/2025
• McCormack Family Farms Baby Leaves (100g and 200g) with best before dates from 25/07/2025 through 30/07/2025
• Tesco Mild Spinach (350g) with best before dates from 25/07/2025 through 31/07/2025
• Egan's Irish Baby Spinach (250g) with best before dates 23/07/2025, 24/07/2025 and 27/07/2025

Consumers should note that some products with earlier best before dates may already be past their use-by period, though any remaining packages should still be disposed of immediately without consumption.

The recall affects fresh produce typically stored in refrigerators rather than frozen prepared meals, representing a different category of food safety risk. Fresh leafy greens can be particularly susceptible to bacterial contamination during growing, harvesting or processing stages.

Listeria monocytogenes poses identical health risks to those outlined in the ongoing Ballymaguire recall, with particular dangers for pregnant women, babies, elderly people and immunocompromised individuals. Symptoms typically include mild flu-like effects or gastrointestinal problems such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, though severe complications can occur in vulnerable populations.

The bacteria's incubation period averages three weeks but ranges from three to 70 days, meaning symptoms may not appear immediately after consumption. Anyone who has eaten recalled products and feels unwell should seek medical advice promptly.

Retailers are removing affected products from shelves and displaying point-of-sale notices. The recall covers products sold through major supermarket chains where McCormack Family Farms supplies fresh produce lines.

Unlike prepared meals that might be stored frozen for extended periods, fresh leafy greens typically have short shelf lives, potentially limiting the scope of products still in circulation. However, consumers should check refrigerators for any remaining packages matching the specified brands, sizes and dates.

Wholesalers, distributors and caterers must ensure immediate removal of implicated products from their operations. Food service establishments using fresh spinach and mixed leaves should verify their suppliers and batch information.

This second Listeria-related recall within days highlights ongoing food safety challenges across different sectors of the Irish food industry, from prepared meals to fresh produce cultivation and processing.

The FSAI continues monitoring both recall situations as investigations proceed into the source and extent of contamination at each facility.

UPDATE: Additional Product Added

Food safety authorities have expanded the recall to include one additional product following Update 1 to alert 2025.35 issued today.

SuperValu Spinach bag (Unwashed) (250g) with best before dates 28/07/2025, 30/07/2025 and 31/07/2025 has been added to the recall list due to confirmed detection of Listeria monocytogenes.

This brings the total number of affected retail brands to four, with SuperValu joining Tesco and Egan's alongside McCormack Family Farms' own-brand products in the fresh produce recall.

Consumers should check refrigerators for this additional product and dispose of it immediately without consumption.