A food recall alert has been issued in Canada for Left Coast Organics brand Organic Chia Seeds due to possible Salmonella contamination. The alert applies to product distributed in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Saskatchewan, and it advises consumers and retailers to stop using the affected chia seeds immediately.
Affected product details (how to confirm)
Check your package carefully. This recall applies to:
- Brand: Left Coast Organics
- Product: Organic Chia Seeds
- Size: 900 g
- UPC: 6 25691 21034 9
- Best Before: 26 NO 13 and 26 NO 14
If your product matches the UPC and either Best Before code, treat it as recalled. Importantly, food contaminated with Salmonella may not look or smell spoiled, so appearance is not a reliable indicator of safety.
What Salmonella can look like
Salmonellosis doesn’t affect everyone the same way, but common short-term symptoms can include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea. People at higher risk of severe illness include young children, pregnant women, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. Even healthy adults can experience unpleasant symptoms and dehydration, and in some cases, longer-term complications may occur.
If you believe you became ill after consuming the recalled chia seeds, contact your healthcare provider for guidance.
What to do if you have the recalled chia seeds
Consumers are advised to:
- Check your pantry for the affected product (match UPC and Best Before code).
- Do not consume the chia seeds or use them in smoothies, baking, overnight oats, or other recipes.
- Do not serve the product to others.
- Return it to the store where purchased, or throw it out if returning isn’t possible.
- If the product was opened, wash hands and sanitize containers, scoops, counters, and any surfaces that may have contacted the seeds to reduce cross-contamination.
Guidance for natural health retailers and food businesses
For health food stores, cafés, and retailers that sell organic pantry staples, speed and documentation matter. Immediately:
- Remove and quarantine all matching stock from shelves and back-of-house storage
- Stop sale, sampling, and use in any prepared foods
- Verify identifiers on every unit (UPC plus Best Before code)
- Post a clear in-store notice and update online listings if applicable
- Record counts and actions (units pulled, returned, discarded) for supplier and compliance follow-up
If your POS system tracks UPC-level purchases, consider pulling a report to support proactive customer communication.
