Starwest Botanicals Recalls Celery Seed For Salmonella

Starwest Botanicals is voluntarily recalling its Whole Starwest Organic Celery Seed over concerns that the celery seed has the potential to be contaminated with the Salmonella pathogen, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) just announced.

The Whole Starwest Organic Celery Seed is packaged in Mylar 1-pound and 2-ounce pouches and was either shipped directly to online or mail order consumers, or held for pickup by consumers at Starwest Botanicals. The recalled product was sold between April 26, 2011 and December 14, 2011 and includes the following:

• Starwest Botanicals Celery Seed (Whole): 2-ounce; UPC 7-6796310619-3 and lot number F7073, which can be found on the bottom of the pouch.
• Starwest Botanicals Celery Seed (Whole): 1 pound; UPC 7-6796307864-3 and lot number 40203, which can be found on the bottom of the pouch.

Starwest Botanicals became aware of the potential contamination after being notified by a customer. No other Starwest spices have been affected by this recall. Consumers in possession of this recalled product may return it to Starwest Botanicals in Rancho Cordova, California for a full refund. Starwest can be reached, toll-free, at 1.800.800.4372, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Pacific Standard Time (PST).

We recently wrote that two other firms issued recalls for potentially contaminated celery seed. Swanson Health Products recalled its Swanson Organic Celery Seed (Whole) packaged in plastic bottles with a net weight of 1.4 ounces (40 grams) and that was sold at the Swanson Health Products retail store at 109 Broadway N., Fargo, North Dakota; shipped directly to on-line or mail-order consumers; or was held for consumer pick up at Swanson Health Products headquarters.

Also, B&M, Mount Vernon, Missouri issued a recall for O Organics Organic Celery Seed sold at all Safeway-owned stores, including Safeway, Carrs, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s, Pak ‘N Save, Pavilions, Randalls, Tom Thumb, and Vons.

The most common symptoms of Salmonella poisoning—salmonellosis—are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever, with symptoms manifesting, usually, within six to 72 hours. Additional symptoms include chills, headache, nausea, and vomiting that can last up to seven days. The illness usually lasts four to seven days; however, in some, the organism can invade the bloodstream, becoming so severe that hospitalization is required.

Sometimes, infection with the Salmonella pathogen can result in, and produce more severe or chronic illnesses. Salmonella, can be dangerous, sometimes deadly, leaving sufferers with serious life-long health issues. Salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial food borne illnesses, can be especially life threatening to those with weakened immune systems, such as infants, the elderly, and persons with HIV infection or who are undergoing chemotherapy.

No illnesses have been reported, to date, in connection with these recalls; however, it can take some time from ingestion of a Salmonella-contaminated product for symptoms to manifest.