Dozens of people have become sick after ingesting supplement powders, federal officials said on Jan. 14.
Of the patients, 12 required hospital care. No deaths have been reported as of yet.
Salmonella can spread through food products. The infections are colloquially known as food poisoning. Symptoms can include diarrhea, stomach cramps, and fever. They usually start appearing 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food, and last four to seven days.
Severe infections are more common in young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems.
Of 20 people who became sick and were interviewed by health officials, 16 reported ingesting a powder from the company.
Laboratory data also showed that bacteria from sick people were closely related genetically, suggesting people got sick from the same food.
Live it Up supplement powder in an undated image. FDA via The Epoch Times
Officials are working to trace the products that ill people reported consuming and sample the products to definitively determine whether the powders caused the outbreak.
Consumers and people who purchased the powders should not consume or sell them if they have expiration dates of August 2026 to January 2028, according to the FDA. Powders fitting that description should be thrown out or returned.
People should also wash items and surfaces that may have come into contact with the recalled powders, using hot soapy water or a dishwasher, authorities said.
Superfoods could not be reached for comment. The company does not appear to have alerted customers to the recall.
Additional products may be contaminated, and the recall may expand, the FDA said.
The people who became sick so far range in age from 16 to 81, and 62 percent are male.
Illnesses began last year, as early as Aug. 22 and as recently as Dec. 30.
Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, and Washington state have all reported one case each.
Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Wisconsin, and Vermont have all reported at least two cases, with Wisconsin recording 11.
