Managing food safety risks associated with toxic weeds in leafy vegetables

Summary

The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code requires food producers to ensure their products are safe and suitable for sale and consumption.
A recent foodborne illness intoxication outbreak linked to fresh baby spinach contaminated with the toxic weed thornapple (Datura stramonium) is an example of a food safety risk that growers and other supply chain participants may not be familiar with.

This Primefact contains information on:

• toxic weeds in leafy vegetables
• foodborne illness intoxication incidents linked to tropane alkaloids
• potential causes/sources and routes of contamination with toxic weeds or weed seeds
• management options