Ottawa households that have been loading up on broccoli microgreens — those trendy, nutrient-packed little sprouts popping up at grocery stores and farmers markets across the city — may want to take a closer look at what's sitting in their crisper drawer.
A Montreal-based farm has issued a voluntary recall of its broccoli microgreens due to possible E. coli contamination, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) confirmed. Anyone who has purchased the product is being urged not to consume it, regardless of whether it looks or smells off.
What You Need to Know
E. coli (Escherichia coli) contamination is a serious food safety concern. While many strains are harmless, certain types — particularly E. coli O157:H7 — can cause severe illness, including stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), vomiting, and in rare cases, life-threatening complications like hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can lead to kidney failure.
Symptoms typically appear between one and ten days after consuming contaminated food. If you've eaten broccoli microgreens recently and are experiencing any of these symptoms, health officials recommend contacting a medical professional right away.
Check Your Fridge
Microgreens have surged in popularity across Ottawa over the past few years. You'll find them at the Byward Market, local health food shops, and major grocery chains. They're frequently used as toppings on salads, sandwiches, smoothies, and grain bowls — which means they're often eaten raw, making proper food safety practices especially important.
Because microgreens are typically consumed without cooking — and heat is the most reliable way to kill E. coli — any contaminated batch poses a direct risk to consumers who eat them straight out of the package.
If you have broccoli microgreens at home and are unsure of their origin, the safest move right now is to throw them out. Do not taste them to check — discard the product and wash your hands and any surfaces that may have come into contact with it.
What the CFIA Is Doing
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is the federal body responsible for food safety recalls in Canada. When a recall is issued, the CFIA works with retailers to pull affected products from shelves and notifies the public through its food recall warnings database.
Ottawa residents can check the CFIA's website for updated details on the recall, including any specific lot numbers, best-before dates, or retail locations where the product may have been sold. The agency's food recall and allergy alert page is updated in real time as more information becomes available.
A Reminder About Microgreen Safety
This recall is a timely reminder that raw sprouts and microgreens — while nutritious — carry a slightly higher food safety risk than many other produce items. Because they're grown in warm, moist conditions, they can be a breeding ground for bacteria if not handled carefully throughout the production process.
Health Canada recommends that vulnerable populations — including young children, older adults, pregnant people, and those with weakened immune systems — exercise extra caution with raw sprouts and microgreens in general.
For now, Ottawa consumers are advised to stay informed, follow the CFIA's guidance, and when in doubt, throw it out.
Source: Global News Ottawa / Canadian Food Inspection Agency
