‘Likely a nightshade’: Australians urged not to seek out spinach products for recreational high

A spinach farm. Growers are facing the extra challenge of an explosion of weeds across the country after months of rain and floods. Photograph: Caitlin Ochs/Reuters

Australians are being urged not to seek out contaminated baby spinach products for a recreational high after more than 130 people who ate a range of fresh food items suffered symptoms including hallucinations and delirium.

Authorities were on Sunday night testing the weed believed to be responsible for the widespread recall of products containing spinach thought to have come from a farm in Victoria.