If you have frozen spinach in your freezer, you'll want to read this immediately. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a nationwide recall of frozen spinach products due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, a dangerous bacterium that can cause serious illness.

What Products Are Affected?

The recall affects two specific products manufactured by Sno Pac Foods:

1. Del Mar 35-Pound Bulk Organic Frozen Spinach

• Primarily sold to food service operations and institutions
• Large-scale bulk packaging

2. Sno Pac Organic Frozen Cut Spinach (10-ounce bags)

• Sold at retail locations across the United States
• Check for these specific lot codes and best-by dates:
  • Lot code SPM1.190.5 — Best by: 7/9/27
  • Lot code SPC1.160.5 — Best by: 6/9/27
  • Lot code SPC2.160.5 — Best by: 6/9/27
  • Lot code SPM1.097.5 — Best by: 4/7/27

HelloFresh Meal Kits Also Impacted

In connection with this spinach recall, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health alert for two HelloFresh ready-made meal products that contain the recalled spinach. These meals were shipped directly to HelloFresh customers:

HelloFresh Ready Made Meals Cheesy Pulled Pork Pepper Pasta (10.1 oz)

• Establishment number "Est. 47718" with lot code 49107
• OR establishment number "Est. 2937" with lot code 48840

HelloFresh Ready Made Meals Unstuffed Peppers with Ground Turkey (10 oz)

• Establishment number "P-47718"
• Lot codes: 50069, 50073, or 50698

Understanding the Listeria Risk

While no illnesses have been reported in connection to this recall so far, Listeria monocytogenes is not something to take lightly. This bacterium can cause listeriosis, an infection that poses particular dangers to certain groups.

Who Is Most at Risk?

Listeria infection can be especially severe for:

• Adults age 65 and older — Weakened immune systems make older adults more susceptible
• Pregnant women — Listeria can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection in newborns
• Young children — Developing immune systems may not fight off the infection effectively
• Immunocompromised individuals — Those with weakened immune systems from conditions like HIV/AIDS, cancer treatment, or organ transplants

Symptoms to Watch For

If you've consumed the recalled spinach, be alert for these common symptoms of listeriosis:

• Fever
• Muscle aches
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

In severe cases, the infection can spread beyond the gut, causing headaches, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. If you experience any symptoms of foodborne illness after eating recalled spinach, contact your healthcare provider immediately.

What You Should Do Right Now

Step 1: Check Your Freezer Look for the Sno Pac Organic Frozen Cut Spinach products with the lot codes listed above. Don't forget to check if you have any HelloFresh meals containing the recalled spinach.

Step 2: Don't Eat It Do not consume any of the recalled products, even if they look and smell fine. Listeria contamination isn't always visible or detectable by smell.

Step 3: Dispose or Return You have two options:

• Safely dispose of the product by sealing it in a bag before throwing it away
• Return it to your place of purchase for a full refund

Step 4: Clean Your Freezer If the recalled spinach was in your freezer, clean any surfaces it may have touched with hot, soapy water to prevent cross-contamination.

Questions or Concerns?

Consumers with questions about the recall may contact Sno Pac Foods at 507-725-5281, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Central Time.

If you received impacted HelloFresh meals, contact HelloFresh customer service for guidance on returns and refunds.

Why Frozen Vegetables Get Recalled

Many people assume frozen vegetables are inherently safer than fresh produce, but contamination can occur at any point in the food production chain—during growing, harvesting, processing, or packaging. Frozen vegetables are typically blanched (briefly cooked) before freezing, which kills some bacteria but not necessarily all pathogens like Listeria.

Listeria is particularly resilient because it can survive and even grow at refrigerator temperatures, making it a persistent concern in frozen food facilities. This is why food safety protocols and regular testing are critical in processing plants.

The Bottom Line

Food recalls can be unsettling, but they're actually a sign that our food safety monitoring systems are working to protect consumers. The fact that this contamination was caught before any illnesses were reported is good news.

Take a few minutes today to check your freezer for the recalled Sno Pac spinach products. While the risk of actually becoming ill is relatively low, it's simply not worth taking chances—especially if you have vulnerable family members at home.

Stay informed about food recalls by checking the FDA's website regularly or signing up for recall alerts. Your health and your family's safety are worth that extra moment of vigilance.

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