Spinach
Product Uses
Food Uses 1
Spinach has a number of health benefits, including protection against inflammatory problems, oxidative stress-related issues, cardiovascular risks, and may aid in cancer prevention. Spinach can be used in the diet in a number of ways, and is most popularly used as a fresh green in salads or on top of sandwiches. It can also be used in a variety of other dishes, such as lasagna.
Non-Food Uses 2
Non-food uses could not be located for this product.
Food Product Codes
FDA Industry Code and General Industry Description 3
| FDA Industry Code | Description of Product |
|---|
HTS code(s) 4
| HTS Code | Description of Product |
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USDA NDB code(s) 5
| USDA NDB Code | Description of Product |
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Standards and Grades
CODEX Standards 6
CODEX STAN 77-1981
FDA Standard of Identity 7
No FDA Standard of Identity was located for this food product.
USDA Grades 8
Grades of Bunched Spinach
(1) US No 1 consists of bunched spinach which meet the following requirements:
Basic requirements: Similar varietal characteristics; Same form; Well grown; Fairly clean; Well trimmed; and fresh.
Free from decay.
Free from damage by:coarse stalks, seedstems, flower buds, discoloration, wilting, foreign material, insects, freezing; and mechanical or other means.
(2) US No 2 consists of bunched spinach which meet the following requirements:
Basic requirements: Similar varietal characteristics; Same form; Well grown; reasonably clean; fairly well trimmed; and fresh.
Free from decay.
Free from serious damage by:coarse stalks, seedstems, flower buds, discoloration, wilting, foreign material, insects, freezing; and mechanical or other means.
Consumption, Production and Trade
Estimated Consumption of Spinach in the United States per capita 2008 - 2017 9
Includes fresh and processed spinach. Updated July 2020.
Annual Value of Spinach Production in the United States (2015-2022) 10
Updated April, 2023.
Annual Quantity of Spinach Produced in the United States (2015-2022) 10
Updated April, 2023.
United States Import Patterns 11
The imports of spinach start out at their highest in January. Followed by a continuous decrease from January through July, where they hit their lowest point. From mid-July through December, spinach imports continually increase.
Monthly Imports of Spinach into the United States 11
Import quantity HTS codes: 070970*, 071030000. Updated July, 2023.
US Imports and Exports by Value 11
Import value HTS codes: 070970*, 071030000.
Updated July, 2023.
Export value HTS codes: 070970*, 071030000.
Updated July, 2023.
US Imports and Exports by Quantity 11
Import quantity HTS codes: 070970*, 071030000.
Updated July, 2023.
Export quantity HTS codes: 070970*, 071030000.
Updated July, 2023.
Top 5 Producing Countries of Spinach (2021) 12
| Country | Metric Tons |
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Top 5 Exporting Countries of Spinach (2021) 12
| Country | Metric Tons |
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Historic Global Production of Spinach 12
Historic Global Value of Spinach 12
Updated July 2020.
Active anti-dumping/countervailing duties 13
Based on the list of antidumping and countervailing duty orders current as of July 1, 2020, there are no active antidumping or countervailing duties for this product.
Processing and Supply Chain Characteristics
Seasonality Profile 14
Seeding time varies by region and is outlined below:
Coastal Plain - February to March or Mid-August to late October Piedmont - Late February to early April or August to mid-October Mountains - March to April or Mid-July to mid-September
Spinach is ready for harvest as soon as it is edible in size and it must be harvested before there is extensive yellowing, breakage, and/or other lead deterioration.
Supply Chain Characteristics 15
After the spinach is harvested it is transported to the processing facility. After it is received it is stored, washed, rinsed, and dried before moving to packing and labeling. Then the packaged product goes through a metal detection system before moving into a controlled storage area before distribution and shipping.
Way Exported 16
No typical export methods were located for this product.
N/A
Shipping pattern into US 2
No typical shipping patterns into the US were located for this product.
N/A
Typical Packaging 17
Whole plants are typically bunched and placed in baskets or crates containing 20-25 lb cartons or wire boung crates with 2 doxen bunches each. Spinach leaves are packaged in film bags, woth 10ox per bag, and 12 bags are packaged into a master carton for transportation. Ready to eat spinach can also be packaged in plastic cartons for retail.
Food Safety and Defense
Typical Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) 18
| Hazard | Common Controls | Production/Processing Step |
|---|
Key Activity Type - Coating/Mixing/Grinding/Rework 19
No
Key Activity Type - Ingredient Staging/Prep/Addition 19
No
Key Activity Type - Liquid Receiving/Loading 19
No
Key Activity Type - Liquid Storage/Hold/Surge Tanks 19
No
Recall history 20
In 2015, there was a recall on spinach for containing Salmonella. In 2016, spinach was recalled for undeclared almonds. In 2018, there was a recall on spinach for listeria contamination, and another for peanut contamination. There were three recalls on spinach in 2019, two for Salmonella contamination and one for listeria.
Foodborne illness pathogens 21
Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, E. coli.
List of past EMA adulterants 2
No past EMA adulterants were located for this product.
Current issues 22
Most recently, Fresh Express recalls their baby spinach products after an almond was found in the production run. They have recalled 350 cases of Fresh Express Baby Spinach as a result.
Prior to this recall, there was a recall of frozen spinach with the risk of listeria monocytogenes in 2015. This affected Amy's Kitchen frozen meals as well as Wegmans frozen spinach sold in Maryland and Virginia.
Sources
- The Geaogre Mateljan Foundation: The World's Healthiest Foods - Spinach.
- N/A
- FDA Product Code Builder.
- United States International Trade Commission - Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
- United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service - National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference.
- CODEX Alimentarius - International Food Standards.
- Code of Federal Regulations - Food Standards, 21 C.F.R. ยง 130.
- United States Department of Agriculture - Grades and Standards.
- United States Department of Agriculture - Food Availability (Per Capita) Data System.
- United States Department of Agriculture - Statistics by Subject.
- United States Department of Agriculture - Global Agricultural Trade System.
- FAOSTAT.
- United States International Trade Commission.
- North Caroline State University Cooperative Extension - Spinach: Horticulture Information Leaflet.
- HACCP plan for Baby Spinach - Chicowash Treatment.
- USITC
- New England Vegetable Management Guide - Crops: Spinach.
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency - HACCP Generic Model for Ready-To-Eat Fresh-Cut Vegetables.
- FDA Appendix 4 - Evaluation of Food Manufactured, Processed, Packed, or Held On-farm for Risk of Intentional Adulteration.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration - Archive for Recalls, Market Withdrawals & Safety Alerts.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. NBC Washington - Frozen Spinach Products Recalled Due to Listeria Concerns.
- NBC Washington - Frozen Spinach Products Recalled Due to Listeria Concerns. Food Safety News - Fresh Express recalls baby spinach after finding almond in production run.