Canadian Agency Recalls Garlic Powder Over Bacterial Risk

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency issued a recall Wednesday for Heavenly Spices garlic powder sold at Dollarama stores across Canada. The action targets possible contamination with Bacillus cereus, a bacterium that can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and watery diarrhea.

Officials classified the recall as a Class 2 event, indicating a moderate risk of short-term or non-life-threatening health effects. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration information cited in the report states that symptoms typically last between 24 and 48 hours.

The product was sold in 70-gram containers both in stores and online. The agency directed consumers and retailers not to use, sell, serve or distribute the affected items. A Dollarama spokesperson told CTVNews.ca on Friday that customers should discard any purchased units. The company offered a $2.00 e-gift card as a replacement for those who contact its customer service line.

Bacterium Bacillus cereus is commonly found in meat, stews, gravies, vanilla sauce and cooked rice that has been improperly refrigerated or left at room temperature. The garlic powder recall follows other recent food safety actions, including a General Mills recall of Pillsbury bread products over possible glass contamination.

Bloomberg News also reported that fresh produce supplier Taylor Farms is preparing a recall tied to ingredients linked to a multistate Cyclospora outbreak, though the company has said its branded salad products are not associated with the illnesses.