At least 30 people are part of an outbreak linked to ground cinnamon from Vietnam.
People who fell sick in Spain with Clostridium perfringens infections reported symptoms including vomiting and diarrhea.
The Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) said it had been informed by officials in Madrid of Clostridium perfringens in a brand of ground cinnamon.
A recall has been issued for Especias Pedroza brand ground cinnamon which comes in a 700-gram plastic container. Affected items have batch numbers and best-before dates A220079 on Dec. 31, 2023, and A222605 on Feb. 28, 2026.
The alert was sent through the Coordinated System for the Rapid Information Exchange of Information (SCIRI) and the Coordination Centre for Health Alerts and Emergencies (CCAES) to verify the withdrawal of affected products from the market and report the existence of possibly related illnesses.
AESAN advised people who have products affected by this alert at home, not to consume them.
As the product came from Vietnam, the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) is also part of the investigation.
Clostridium perfringens makes spores, which help it survive heat, dryness, and other environmental conditions. Under certain conditions, such as when food is kept at an unsafe temperature, these spores can transform into active bacteria, which multiply in food. After someone eats food containing Clostridium perfringens, it can produce a toxin that causes diarrhea, according to the CDC.
Food poisoning caused by Clostridium perfringens is usually associated with inadequately cooked foods, items that are cooled too slowly or not kept at a hot enough temperature.
People normally experience symptoms of infection 6 to 24 hours after consuming the bacteria or toxins. Clostridium perfringens toxins cause abdominal pain and stomach cramps, followed by diarrhea. Nausea is also a common symptom. Illness generally lasts around 24 hours and is rarely fatal.
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