South Australian’s are being advised to check the poppy seeds in their kitchen following a national recall of some batches of products.
Poppy seeds from the popular brands ‘Hoyts’ and South Australian wholesaler, ‘Gigani’s’ have been found to contain a poisonous chemical that has so far left 19 people in hospitals across the country including one South Australian.
The products have been pulled from Coles and Woollies shelves nationally after traces of the naturally occurring chemical Thebaine were found within the food supply with Food Standards Australia warning that consumers should not eat the products in any amount.
Thebaine is known to be poisonous to humans and may cause symptoms of spasms, seizures, difficulty breathing and even cardiac arrest if consumed. One Victorian has suffered a cardiac arrest with two others in NSW in intensive care after consuming the poppy seed tea – a popular drinking containing a large amount of the seeds.
Consumers are being urged to throw out the products or return them to the store of purchase for a full refund. It is impossible to tell which seeds are infected with the chemical just by sight, with experts advising for all seeds to be disposed of to heed caution.
Ongoing investigations are continuing around the presence of the chemical will continue this week.
The Gaganis products have been available for sale at independent food retailers, online and direct from Gaganis in SA. The recalled buys have best-before dates from September 1, 2023, up to November 8, 2023, July 2024 and October 2024.
If you are experiencing any symptoms, seek medical advice immediately.
For more information, head to the Hoyts Foods or Gigani’s Facebook.
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