On Wednesday 5 March 2025, the Luxembourg Veterinary and Food Administration (ALVA) announced the recall of various products from the brand Healthy Powerfood due to the possible presence of Bacillus cereus.
This recall affects the following products:
- Sprossenkiste Powerfood 1. Use-by dates: 01/03/2025, 03/03/2025, 05/03/2025, 08/03/2025 and 10/03/2025;
- Sprossenkiste Powerfood 2. Use-by dates: 01/03/2025, 03/03/2025, 05/03/2025, 08/03/2025 and 10/03/2025;
- Sprossen Mix Crunchy Bio (200g). Use-by dates: 01/03/2025, 03/03/2025, 05/03/2025, 08/03/2025 and 10/03/2025;
- Sprossen Mix Healthy Bio (80g). Use-by dates: 01/03/2025, 03/03/2025, 05/03/2025, 08/03/2025 and 10/03/2025.
The products in question were sold in multiple stores across Luxembourg.
There is currently an orange awareness level alert in place (i.e. medium risk/danger - be careful).
The food safety authority noted that Bacillus cereus can cause food poisoning, with different symptoms depending on the type of toxin causing the infection.
These symptoms occur in two different forms:
- Emetic symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and occasionally mild diarrhoea, usually appear 30 minutes to six hours after consuming contaminated food.
- Diarrhoeal symptoms, such as watery diarrhoea, abdominal cramps and, less commonly, nausea, usually occur six to 24 hours after consumption of contaminated food. It is important to drink plenty of fluids, especially in the case of diarrhoea.
These symptoms may be more pronounced in susceptible individuals and immunocompromised patients. Bacillus cereus is particularly heat resistant and can therefore survive common cooking temperatures that would normally kill most other bacteria.
People who have consumed a contaminated product and are experiencing symptoms should seek medical advice and disclose their exposure. Symptoms may vary from person to person and in severity depending on the extent of infection.
SM
