A garlic powder product sold at Dollarama stores nationwide has been recalled due to potential bacterial contamination.
The affected product is Heavenly Spices Garlic Powder, packaged in 70-gram containers bearing the UPC 6 67888 50634 7 and a best-before code of BB: 2029 JAN 30 GP 30ZV PIT.
The recall was initiated after testing detected bacillus cereus, a spore-forming bacterium linked to foodborne illness. The recall has been classified as a moderate risk, meaning consumption may lead to short-term or non-life-threatening health problems.
Consumers who have purchased the product are advised not to use, sell, serve, or distribute it. The item should be discarded or returned to the place of purchase.
Bacillus cereus is a common cause of food poisoning characterized by two distinct syndromes: diarrheal and emetic. Symptoms typically include watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, and vomiting, with illness lasting from 12 to 24 hours up to several days.
The bacterium forms spores that are generally resistant to heating, freezing, drying, and radiation. While complications and fatalities are rare, deaths have been reported in connection with certain toxin-producing strains.
