Lakewood,  CO-based Vitamin Cottage Natural Food Markets, Inc. has recalled its Natural Grocers Brand 4-ounce Organic Whole Elderberries after being notified by its supplier of the potential presence of Salmonella.

To date, the company has received no reports of illness or injury but said it was acting out of an abundance of caution to remove the potentially affected product in the marketplace.

“After initially certifying that this product had tested negative for Salmonella and was fit for human consumption, our supplier subsequently notified the company of the potential presence of Salmonella in specific lots of organic elderberries,”  Vitamin Cottage’s recall notice said.

Consumers who may have purchased this product are advised to discontinue use immediately and discard or return the product for credit or refund. The recalled product is packaged in clear plastic bags weighing 4-ounces and bearing the “Natural Grocers” label. only packages bearing the following pack dates are being recalled at this time: 20-216, 20-225, 20-246, 20-265, & 20-281.

The product was distributed to 159 Natural Grocers stores located in Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.  

Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.  Others infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.   Anyone experiencing these symptoms, who might have been exposed to Salmonella,  should report to a medical provider.