Organic sesame seed recall

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume certain pre-packaged and bulk organic sesame seeds because they may be contaminated with Salmonella. CFIA said some of the affected products are pre-packaged and some are in bulk, with a sell date between mid-October of last year and this month.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the seeds so far, but consumers who bought them should check with the retail store to determine if their product is affected, the agency said.

Food contaminated with Salmonella may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of the bacteria may cause salmonellosis, a foodborne illness. In young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems, salmonellosis may cause serious and sometimes deadly infections. In otherwise healthy people, salmonellosis may cause short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Long-term complications may include severe arthritis.

The affected organic sesame weeds were imported from Uganda. The CFIA is working with the importer and various Canadian distributors to recall the affected products from store shelves. The listed brands and distributors include:

• Shares
• Mountain Path Inc.
• Produits Nutri-Forme Inc.
• Speerville flour mill
• Ontario Natural Food Co-op
• Westpoint Naturals
• Charlie Brown’s
• Health First
• Whole Foods Market
• The Vitamin Centre Stores
• Valley Natural Health Products
• Sangster’s Health Centres
• Root’s Natural
• Homesteader Health Organic
• Nutraways
• Capers Organics
• Nature’s Finest Gourmet
• The Organic Grocer
• Small Potatoes Spud.ca
• Healthyway
• Maria’s Health Foods
• Planet Organic Market
• Power of Food.com

For more information, consumers and industry can call the CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 / TTY 1-800-465-7735 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday).

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