NY Listeria Concerns Prompt Recall Of Kale, Spinach, Collard Greens

NEW YORK CITY — New Yorkers who eat healthy beware: some of your leafy greens could have an unhealthy listeria contamination.

Spinach, kale and collard greens sold under the Lancaster, Giant and Robinson Fresh brand names are under a recall in six states, including New York.

All the products are already past the "best if used by date" of May 1, according to Lancaster Foods' voluntary recall notice posted on the Food and Drug Administration website.

"No related illnesses have been reported to date," the site states.

Still, federal health officials are warning consumers in six states where the products were distributed —Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia — of potential health risks.

The voluntary recall centers around products that came from the Lancaster Foods' Maryland facility, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

But it was a random sample bag tested by New York's Agriculture and Markets Food Safety Division that prompted the recall after it came back positive for the listeria pathogen.

The products are being removed from store produce sections, and consumers who bought them should discard them.

Listeria infections can be serious and sometimes fatal in young children, frail or older people, and others with weakened immune systems. Short-term symptoms include high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Questions may be directed to Lancaster Foods Customer Service at 877-844-3441 from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. EDT, Monday through Friday.

A complete list of the recalled products is found on the FDA website and here: