Heavenly Spices Garlic Powder Recalled Over Bacillus Cereus

What's happening

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency issued the recall on July 15, 2026, for Heavenly Spices brand Garlic Powder sold nationwide, including through Dollarama's online store. The concern is Bacillus cereus, a bacterium that can turn up in improperly stored or handled food and cause unpleasant, though usually short-lived, illness.

Dollarama L.P. is listed as the recalling firm, and the CFIA has classified this as a Class 2 recall. That designation means there's a moderate risk tied to the product, not a life threatening one, but still enough that the agency wants it off shelves and out of kitchens immediately.
Where it was sold and what to do

The affected garlic powder came in 70 gram containers and was distributed across Canada, both in stores and online, according to Fox Business. The CFIA's guidance is straightforward: do not use, sell, serve, or distribute the product. If it's sitting in your spice rack, the safest move is to toss it or return it rather than risk using it in a meal.

Why Bacillus cereus is a concern

Bacillus cereus is a bacterium that shows up fairly often in food safety recalls, particularly with items like meat, stews, gravies, and rice that have been left out at room temperature or not refrigerated properly.

It's known for producing two different kinds of illness. One is an emetic, or vomiting, type of illness that tends to develop within one to six hours of eating contaminated food. The other is a diarrheal illness that usually takes longer to show up, somewhere between six and fifteen hours after exposure.

For most healthy adults, symptoms clear up within a day or two. But the CFIA and health officials note that young children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems face a higher risk of more serious complications, so extra caution is warranted for those groups.

Statement from officials

The CFIA's notice was direct: "Do not use, sell, serve or distribute the affected product." The agency has not indicated that any illnesses have been confirmed in connection with the recall so far.

A Dollarama spokesperson confirmed the company is offering a two dollar e-gift card to customers who contact its customer service team as a replacement for the recalled product. Neither Dollarama nor Heavenly Spices has released additional public comment beyond the recall notice at this time.

If you've bought Heavenly Spices garlic powder recently, it's worth taking a minute to check the packaging against the CFIA's recall notice for matching lot numbers and best before dates. When in doubt, throwing it out is the safer bet.

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