‘Do not use’: Dollarama recalls popular kitchen item over ‘microbial contamination’

A person walks past a Dollarama store in Montreal, Wednesday, June 7, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

A common pantry item sold at a popular Canada-wide chain is being recalled because of a “microbial contamination.”

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) published a recall issued by Dollarama on Wednesday for a garlic powder sold in its stores.

The spice, part of the Heavenly Spices brand, is being pulled off the shelves by the retail chain because of bacillus cereus.

The product, which comes in a 70-gram container, was sold both across the country and online.

“Do not use, sell, serve or distribute the affected product,” the recall noted.

The CFIA listed the garlic powder as a Class 2 recall, which it defines as having a “moderate risk that consuming the food may lead to short-term or non-life threatening health problems.”

According to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), bacillus cereus is a foodborne pathogen that could lead to symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea

Both symptoms generally resolve within a day or two, though a small percentage of cases can be more severe. Most will recover without treatment, though staying hydrated is recommended if vomiting or diarrhea is extreme.

Bacillus cereus “is widespread in the environment and commonly found in the soil,” the BCCDC said.

The bacterium can infect some animals and could result in symptoms that can debilitate and even kill them.