Urgent recall issued for popular health food over salmonella fears | US | News
A popular health food in the US has been urgently recalled due to concerns it may be contaminated with salmonella. A notice issued by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned of “potential foodborne illness” linked to organic chia seeds. The nutrient-dense seeds, which have a mild, nutty flavor, are considered a superfood and have been rapidly growing in popularity in recent years.
The recall “due to possible salmonella contamination” applies to 8oz packages of Navitas Organics’ Organic Chia Seeds. The FDA notice stated: “This recall is being conducted as a precautionary measure following a recall initiated by the company’s chia seed supplier. The product was distributed nationally through retail stores such as Whole Foods Market and online retailers including Amazon.”
FDA notification listed party codes Some of the affected products. Navotas said no illnesses or adverse medical events were reported and other products were not affected.
Salmonella bacteria is one of the most common causes of food poisoning, often resulting from contaminated foods such as meat, raw eggs and unpasteurized dairy products. Symptoms include diarrhea, stomach cramps, vomiting and high fever.
Most patients recover within a week and can overcome the illness with plenty of rest and fluid intake.
But some may be more severely affected and suffer rare complications such as blood poisoning, abscesses and joint pain.
The UK Health Safety Agency warned last year that salmonella infections were at a decade-high, with 10,388 cases detected in 2024. This was 17% more than the 8,872 cases in 2023.
UKHSA Deputy Director of Gastrointestinal Infections Dr. Gauri Godbole said: “Our comprehensive surveillance shows high levels of gastrointestinal infections in the UK. We continue to work closely with our partners to detect, investigate infections and stop their spread.”
The risk of Salmonella poisoning can be reduced by heating food to 70°C for at least two minutes and ensuring all meat is thoroughly cooked.
Foods that require refrigeration should be stored at 5C or below, and frozen meat and poultry products should be thawed thoroughly before cooking.
