Heavenly Spices Garlic Powder Recalled in Canada Due to Bacillus cereus Contamination

A popular brand of garlic powder sold at Dollarama stores across Canada has been recalled after health officials warned it may be contaminated with Bacillus cereus, a bacterium that can cause foodborne illness. The recall affects Heavenly Spices garlic powder sold nationwide in stores and online, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency announced Wednesday. The CFIA classified the recall as Class 2, meaning the product could cause temporary or non-life-threatening health effects if consumed. The recalled product was sold in 70-gram containers at Dollarama locations across Canada and through the retailer's online store. Consumers should not use, sell, serve or distribute the affected product, the agency said. Dollarama advised customers who purchased the garlic powder to throw it away. Customers can also contact Dollarama Customer Service to receive a $2 e-gift card as a replacement, the company told CTVNews.ca. Bacillus cereus can cause symptoms including nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and watery diarrhea, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Illness typically lasts between 24 and 48 hours. The bacterium is commonly associated with improperly stored foods such as cooked rice, meat, stews, gravies and vanilla sauce. The garlic powder recall adds to a recent surge of food safety alerts making headlines in the U.S. Earlier this week, General Mills recalled more than 735,000 packages of Pillsbury bread products over concerns they may contain glass. Meanwhile, Taylor Farms has voluntarily removed all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico from the U.S. after the FDA identified the region as the likely source of a Cyclospora outbreak linked to shredded lettuce served at certain Taco Bell restaurants. The outbreak has sickened people in at least 34 states, though no other Taylor Fresh Foods products are affected.