Chia Seed Recall Sparks Nationwide Warning

A voluntary recall has been issued over concerns that chia seeds shipped to Walmart stores nationwide could cause potentially fatal infections.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) shared to its website on Monday a recall announcement for Natural Sourcing International’s Great Value Organic Black Chia Seeds, due to the “potential presence” of salmonella, a bacteria that causes sometimes deadly infections in children, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems.

“Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain,” states the recall announcement, which was originally published on Friday.

“In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis,” it continues.

The affected chia seeds were distributed nationally in 32-ounce packages with an expiration date of October 30, 2026, a lot code reading “24095 C018” and a UPC code reading “078742300665.”

Although no related illnesses had been reported at the time of publication, the recall was issued “out of an abundance of caution and because consumer safety is the company’s highest priority.”

Those who purchased the chia seeds are urged to throw them away, with Natural Sourcing International—which produces the item for Walmart under the Great Value label—providing replacements for those with proof of purchase.

Information about replacement products and answers to other questions about the recall are available by contacting Natural Sourcing International’s customer service department via phone at 1-818-405-9705 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday Eastern time, or via email at customerservice@organically-simple.com.

Newsweek reached out for comment to Walmart via online press contact form on Monday evening.

Salmonella is the most common cause of food poisoning in the U.S., with several potentially tainted food products having previously been recalled this month, including additional products sold by Walmart stores.

Symptoms of a salmonella infection, also known as salmonellosis, can appear between six hours to six days following the consumption of the tainted food, according to the U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service. The infection typically lasts from four to seven days.

Concerns over another potentially deadly bacteria, E.coli, also resulted in the recall of approximately 16,243 pounds of raw beef sold by Walmart earlier this month.

E.coli contamination is particularly dangerous due to its ability to cause a rare type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can affect 5 to 10 percent of people infected with certain strains of the bacteria. Elderly adults and children under the age of 5 are especially vulnerable.

The recalled beef was distributed to Walmart stores in 11 states: Connecticut, Maryland Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia, along with Washington, D.C.