Officials Warn Nashville Residents About Contaminated Spuds

Nashville, Tenn., residents are warned not to accept any offers of free bags of potatoes after 42,000 pounds of russets that were burnt in a truck fire went missing.

The load of spuds was destined for a landfill after the truck caught fire on the side of the interstate earlier this week. Tom Womack, a spokesman for the state agricultural department, said an inspector noted soot and fire retardant on the 10-pound bags of Dole brand russet potatoes.

The potatoes were reportedly dumped on a private lot and now state officials cannot find them. Womack said reports surfaced Friday that some Nashville residents were being offered free bags of potatoes.

He said the health risk was low but urged people not eat any potatoes that haven’t come from a store.