Advantage Health Matters is recalling Organic Traditions branded sprouted flax seed powder and sprouted chia powder products because of possible Salmonella contamination. Similar products under the Organic Traditions brand were linked to a Salmonella outbreak in 2014 that sickened more than 80 people in the U.S. and Canada. As of 4:30 EST today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had not posted any recall information for Advantage Health Matters products. No one should consume the recalled products, according to the Feb. 8 notice on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) website. Advantage Health Matters distributed the flax, chia and flax-chia powders nationwide in Canada. The products do not expire until the fall of 2017, which heightens public risk, CFIA reported. “Check to see if you have recalled products in your home,” the CFIA advised. “Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the store where they were purchased. 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 from Salmonella. Healthy people may experience short-term symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Long-term complications may include severe arthritis. This recall was triggered by CFIA test results. The CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. If other high-risk products are recalled, the CFIA will notify the public through updated Food Recall Warnings. The CFIA is verifying that industry is removing recalled product from the marketplace. The recalled products have the following information on their labels:
- Organic Traditions Sprouted Flax Seed Powder, 227 g, LOT: AHM626151118N, EXP:09/2017, UPC 8 54260 00626 1
- Organic Traditions Sprouted Flax Seed Powder, 454 g, LOT: AHM553151118N, EXP:09/2017, UPC 8 54260 00553 0
- Organic Traditions Sprouted Chia & Flax Seed Powder, 227 g, LOT: AHM621151211N, EXP:10/2017, UPC 8 54260 00621 6
Recall notices related to the 2014 outbreak included:
- 2014-06-25 – Organic Traditions brand Sprouted Chia & Flax Seed Powder recalled due to Salmonella
- 2014-06-11 – Various products containing chia seeds or sprouted chia seed powder recalled due to Salmonella
- 2014-06-13 – Dietary Express brand sprouted chia & flax seed powder recalled due to Salmonella
- 2014-06-07b – Various products containing sprouted chia seed powder recalled due to Salmonella
- 2014-06-06 – Various products containing chia seeds or sprouted chia seed powder recalled due to Salmonella
- 2014-06-04 – Various products containing sprouted chia seeds recalled due to Salmonella
- 2014-06-03 – Various products containing sprouted chia seeds recalled due to Salmonella
- 2014-06-07b – Various products containing sprouted chia seed powder recalled due to Salmonella
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