Popular healthy snack sold at Whole Foods recalled over fears of contamination with deadly bacteria

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has spoken out in warning over a product that's been voluntarily recalled as a 'precautionary measure' due to possible contamination.

On January 23, the FDA released a report that Navitas Organics is in the process of 'voluntarily recalling select lots' of its '8oz Organic Chia Seeds'.

The product is reported as having been distributed across multiple Whole Foods Market retail stores alongside 'online retailers including Amazon'.

The FDA hasn't specified exactly which stores the seeds were sold in, but that the risk of potential contamination applies to the chia seeds product which is 'packaged in sealed stand-up pouches'.

But how do you know if you have a potentially dodgy packet? And what could happen if you do consume them?

Navitas Organics are recalling select packets of their chia seeds (Navitas Organics/FDA)

How to check your 8oz Organic Chia Seeds packet

The FDA release explains the recall applies to the follow items:

• Navitas Organics - Organic Chia Seeds, 8oz, UPC 858847000284
• Lot Codes (9-digit codes starting with 'W') are printed on the back of the chia seed bag above the nutritional information. The Lot Codes included in this recall are:
• W31025283 - Best If Used By: End APR 2027
• W31025286 - Best If Used By: End APR 2027
• W31025287 - Best If Used By: End APR 2027
• W31025311 - Best If Used By: End MAY 2027
• W31025314 - Best If Used By: End MAY 2027
• W31025315 - Best If Used By: End MAY 2027
• W31025316 - Best If Used By: End MAY 2027
• W31025317 - Best If Used By: End MAY 2027

If you have any packets of the seeds with the numbers listed above, the release urges 'do not consume them'.

Instead, it requests customers 'open the bag, discard the chia seeds and dispose of the bag in a manner that makes it unusable'.

Check the lot code of your packet to see if it needs to be chucked out (Navitas Organics/FDA)

Why the product is being recalled

Well, it's due to 'possible Salmonella contamination'.

It's an infection with Salmonella bacteria that 'causes diarrhea, fever and stomach pains', the Cleveland Clinic explains.

Salmonella is 'the most common form of bacterial food poisoning in the US' and while it typically 'goes away on its own in a few days', in extreme cases, you can be hospitalized and even die. Though the site notes that 'out of millions of Salmonella infections in the U.S. each year, only 420 people die from it'.

However, via the FDA's release, Navitas Organics explains it hasn't had 'any reports of Salmonella in [their] product at this time, nor have any illnesses or adverse medical events been reported or identified'.

"No other Navitas Organics products are affected by this recall," it adds.

And the CEO also commented on the ongoing debacle.

The product has experienced 'possible Salmonella contamination' (CAVALLINI JAMES/BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Navitas Organics statement

Ira Haber, Navitas Organics CEO, said: "Navitas has provided Organic Chia Seeds to our customers for more than 20 years. Providing safe, healthy food for our customers is why we have been in business this long and it’s why we are recalling this product today.

"The company is working closely with FDA on this issue. We apologize to our customers for any inconvenience caused by this recall."

Customers can also return the item to the place of purchase for a refund.

UNILAD has contacted Navitas Organics for further comment, alongside Amazon and Whole Foods Market.