Spinach that was served at 10 Lancaster County Schools in Lancaster, SC, has been recalled, according to a news report from WCSC-TV in Charleston, SC. The spinach was from Taylor Farms in Salinas, CA, which was recalled because of potential contamination with Listeria.
The 10 schools included in the recall are A.R. Rucker Middle, Brooklyn Springs Elementary, Buford Elementary, Buford High, Erwin Elementary, Harrisburg Elementary, Heath Springs Elementary, Indian Land Elementary, Indian Land Middle and McDonald Green Elementary. Lancaster County School District officials said they received a notice this week from one of its product providers about the spinach recall. The district has sent out letters to parents of students who attend the schools affected by the spinach recall. “So far, no one in our schools or any of the other customers who received and used the spinach has reported any illness,” Superintendent Gene Moore said. “Despite that, we wanted to alert parents in case their children showed symptoms of Listeriosis.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Mayo Clinic, Listeriosis is a serious infection usually caused by eating contaminated food. The disease primarily affects older adults, pregnant women, newborns and adults with weakened immune systems. The school district released the following list of symptoms:
- If a person develops a Listeria infection, he/she may experience fever, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhea.
- Symptoms may begin a few days after the person has eaten contaminated food, but it may take as long as two months before the first signs and symptoms of infection begin. The incubation period is usually one day to three weeks.
- If the Listeria infection spreads to the nervous system, signs and symptoms may include headache, stiff neck, confusion or changes in alertness, loss of balance and convulsions.
- Pregnant women typically experience fever and other non-specific symptoms such as fatigue and aches. However, infections during pregnancy can lead to life-threatening complications for the baby.
You are encouraged to see a doctor if any of the following happen:
- If a person has eaten food recalled because of Listeria contamination, he/she should pay close attention to any possible signs or symptoms of illness and contact his/her health care provider.
- If a person experiences symptoms indicating possible nervous system involvement, the person should seek emergency care immediately.
