Canadian Recall of Chia Seed Powder Expands; Salmonella Case Count up to 17 in the U.S.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has updated its recall warning issued May 30 regarding sprouted chia seed powder to include additional product information identified during its food safety investigation.

The May 30 warning came after Advantage Health Matters and Back 2 the Garden announced they were recalling various products containing dried sprouted organic chia seed powder from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination.

Nine cases of Salmonella infection linked to consumption of the powder have been identified in three provinces. The Salmonella strains identified as associated with this Canadian outbreak include S. Newport and S. Hartford.

As of June 2, 17 people from 10 U.S. states been sickened with Salmonella infections linked to the recalled chia seed powder, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). CDC notes that 12 of those 17 were infected with a strain of S. Newport and five with a strain of S. Hartford, two of the 17 have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.

The outbreak strain of S. Hartford in five U.S. cases matches the outbreak strain in Canada, CDC added.

Food contaminated with Salmonella may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick. Young children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems may contract serious and sometimes deadly infections. Healthy people may experience short-term symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Long-term complications may include severe arthritis.

CFIA stated June 3 that the following products have been sold in British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Quebec and through Internet sales. Consumers are warned not to consume them but to throw them out or return them to the store where they were purchased.

Brand Name	Common Name	Size	Code(s) on Product	UPC
Intuitive Path SuperFoods	Black Sprouted Chia Seeds Certified Organic	227 g	Best Before: Dec 31/14, Jan 1/16, 05/16	None
Intuitive Path SuperFoods	Black Sprouted Chia Seeds Certified Organic	454 g	Best Before:Jan 1/16, 05/16	None
Harmonic Arts Botanical Dispensary	Chia Seed Sprouted and Ground (Salvia hispanica) Organic	227 g	0290 BEST BEFORE 2016/05	1 37101 61797 1
Harmonic Arts Botanical Dispensary	Chia Seed Sprouted and Ground (Salvia hispanica) Organic	454 g	0290 BEST BEFORE 2016/05	1 37101 62797 0
Naturallyorganic	Organic sprouted chia seeds cold milled	250 g	B1013SBC310	0 83747 00342 8

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