More Food Products Recalled Over Sunflower Seed Concerns

— -- A voluntary recall of sunflower seeds that may have been contaminated with listeria bacteria has grown to include multiple brands in recent weeks. Figi's Companies issued a voluntary recall this week for two products that contained SunOpta sunflower kernels. Earlier this month General Mills issued a recall for four flavors of its Nature Valley granola bars that contained the seeds.

SunOpta voluntarily reported the recall in May and expanded it on June 1. The recall affects products made in the company's Crookston, Minnesota, facility between the dates of May 31, 2015 and Jan. 31, 2016.

No illnesses have been reported by SunOpta, General Mills or Figi's Companies in relation to the recall.

Listeria is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.

“SunOpta is fully committed to ensuring the safety of consumers and integrity of the products we make for our customers,” Rik Jacobs, SunOpta president and CEO, said in a statement earlier this month. “In an abundance of caution, we are expanding the recall period to include sunflower kernel products originating from our Crookston facility that have any potential to be contaminated.

Information on the SunOpta recall can be found on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website. Information on the Figi's recall can be found here. Information on the Nature Valley granola bars recall can be found here.