In a turn of events, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has clarified that a laboratory error led to the recent recall of lēf Farms’ “Spice” Packaged Salad Greens. The product has been declared safe, and the recall has consequently been withdrawn.
Previously, a recall notice was issued on May 5 due to a suspected Escherichia coli O157 contamination in a specific product batch. lēf Farms, prioritizing customer safety, promptly initiated a voluntary recall of the potentially affected items. However, subsequent whole genome sequencing revealed that the actual lab results were inaccurate, caused by a contamination error within the laboratory.
Tricia Tilley, Director of the Division of Public Health Services (DPHS), apologized to lēf Farms, their customers, and the public, lauding the company’s swift action and customer-first approach. “While this situation is unprecedented, our dedicated staff will embrace all corrective actions to ensure it will not occur again,” she assured.
State Commissioner of Agriculture, Markets, and Food Shawn Jasper commended lēf Farms’ high level of food safety and integrity following a two-day inspection. The company, a subsidiary of BrightFarms, is a national leader in the rapidly growing indoor farming industry, pioneering the transformation of produce cultivation and delivery.
Steve Platt, CEO of BrightFarms, expressed relief at the clarification and reasserted their commitment to customer health and safety. “I’m immensely proud of our team’s swift response and effective collaboration with FDA and state officials,” he said.
lēf Farms’ “Spice” salad greens are now returning to the shelves in several states, and customers who have purchased the products no longer need to discard them or seek refunds. For queries, customers can contact lēf Farms directly.
In over twenty years, this is the first time the Public Health Laboratory (PHL) has experienced a false positive from routine testing leading to a voluntary recall. In coordination with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the DHHS is working diligently to identify the source of the lab contamination and implement necessary protocol changes to prevent a recurrence. Corrective actions based on the investigation results will be implemented to protect consumers, manufacturers, food producers, and the general public.
