Herbal Tea Recalled Due to Salmonella Contamination Concerns

The CFIA has issued a recall for a Senna Leaf brand herbal tea due to potential salmonella contamination. CFIA handout photo

A recall has been issued for Celebration Herbals Senna Leaf herbal tea across multiple provinces due to potential salmonella contamination.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) issued an alert on Nov. 26 after a recall was triggered by the company.

The product was distributed in British Columbia, Ontario, and New Brunswick, and was also sold online.

The affected product is sold in 42 gram boxes, each containing 24 tea bags, and is marked with a ‘best by’ date of Oct. 29, 2028. The UPC code is 6 28240 20182 9 and the lot number is 251004.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product, the CFIA said, but noted it is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. The agency is also verifying that recalled products have been removed from the marketplace.

Consumers and retailers are advised against consuming, serving, selling, or distributing the recalled tea. Instead, the CFIA suggests all recalled packages be disposed of or returned to the place of purchase.

The recall is categorized as a Class 2 recall, which represents the middle category of the three-tier classification system. It represents a moderate risk that consuming the food or beverage might lead to short-term or non-life threatening health issues.

Salmonella Symptoms

Salmonella is an illness caused by salmonella bacteria that may produce a variety of symptoms, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Not everyone who comes into contact with salmonella will fall ill, but those who do usually exhibit symptoms within a timeframe of six to 72 hours, the agency’s website said. The groups most at risk are young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems.

Chills, diarrhea, fever, nausea, stomach cramps, sudden headaches, and vomiting are the most common symptoms and they typically subside within four to seven days.

Most people recover on their own, but there are cases where some become seriously ill and require hospitalization, the agency said. People who fall critically ill might encounter prolonged health problems such as reactive arthritis, also known as Reiter’s syndrome. Serious symptoms generally appear within four weeks of becoming ill.