Shoppers suffered hallucinations after spinach became contaminated by a psychoactive weed.
They were left left feeling ill after containers of baby spinach were sold at shops in Australia.
The products were recalled from retailers after dozens of shoppers who had bought the leafy vegetable suffered fever, blurred vision and delirium.
In Victoria, the south east of the country, eight people became ill and 47 had symptoms in New South Wales (NSW)
It prompted 17 of those affected to seek medical help after eating the vegetable.
The leafy, green vegetable is understood to have been supplied by a farm in Lindenow, Victoria.
![](https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article28756066.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_Woman-harvesting-spinach-leaves-in-vegetable-garden-partial-view.jpg)
Riviera Farms said the spinach was contaminated by a weed and could have health consequences if eaten.
Dr Darren Roberts, medical director of the New South Wales Poisons Information Centre, said those who had eaten it remained very sick over 24 hours after they fell ill.
He told the Sydney Morning Herald: “The patients that have been quite unwell have been to the point of marked hallucinations where they are seeing things that aren’t there.
“They can’t give a good account of what happened.
![](https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article28756088.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_Bowl-of-fresh-spinach-leaves-on-wood.jpg)
“No one has died, so we’re very happy with that, and we hope it remains that way, but these people are quite sick.”
Health authorities in New South Wales are investigating and believe symptoms were caused by a chemical which was accidentally present.
They suspect it may have been caused by another plant inadvertently entering the supply chain.
The baby spinach was branded by Riviera Farms and available through Costco.
It had had been sold in a one kilogram plastic containers with a best-before date of December 16.
![](https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article28756094.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_Young-woman-holding-spinach-leafs-salad.jpg)
The Telegraph reported a statement from the farm said: “As soon as we were advised of the possible weed contamination from one of our customers, we immediately advised them to remove our imported spinach from their shelves and contacted state and federal health authorities.
“There is no suggestion, and to our knowledge no possibility, that any other products have been impacted by this weed.”
People suffering symptoms were advised go to hospital by NSW Health officials as effects would not disappear on their own.
The Mirror reported yesterday about a former deputy Prime Minister was taken to hospital after he downed a traditional sipping drink.
Michael McCormack once held the role in Australia and was offered some sakau recently while on a diplomatic tour.
The traditional drink is a type of ‘Kava’ which is created using the root of a pepper plant.
It contains no alcohol or drugs, but has a narcotic effect which can reduce anxiety and numb pain.
He said he was ‘just trying to be respectful’ when he took an entire shell of sakau.
It led him to feel sick before he went 'cross-eyed' and was rushed to hospital.