An outbreak of Salmonella that has infected at least 65 people in the U.S. and Canada has prompted health officials and food companies to issue recalls of chia seed powder products, according to Food Safety News.
21 of the 65 cases that have been reported since May are in the United States, with victims ranging in age from 1 to 81 and located in 12 different states. Of those cases with available information, 2 were hospitalized. No deaths have been reported in connection with the outbreak.
Chia powder, which is made from sprouting chia seeds and then grinding the sprouts into powder, is a popular health food ingredient that is frequently added to smoothies or otherwise consumed raw, increasing the risk of Salmonella. The recall covers chia powder products manufactured by several different companies, including Navitas Naturals, Health Matters America Inc., and GreenSmoothieGirl, as well as Canada-based Advantage Health Matters and BioEssential Botanicals. Consumers are urged to throw the recalled food products away, or return them to the place of purchase for a refund.
Dr. Laura Gieraltowski with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) points out that this recall marks the first time that chia seeds have been identified as a food with the potential to transmit Salmonella.
If you have sickened by a contaminated food product, you may have a product liability claim. Please contact the product liability attorneys at Hodes Milman today at (949) 640-8222 or go online at verdictvictory.com for a free consultation.
