Recall issued for spice after aconite confirmed in mass poisoning at Markham restaurant

A recall has been issued for a specific spice powder product after York Region Public Health confirmed the source of a mass poisoning at a Markham restaurant.

“York Region Public Health can now confirm that the ‘Mr. Right brand Keampferia Galanga Powder’ which was implicated in the recent illnesses in York Region residents, has tested positive for aconite toxin,” said York Region Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Barry Pakes.

“This package was marked as Keampferia Galanga Powder with a code AT154 on the packaging.”

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has now recalled product, which is a common spice in Asian cuisine and is also called sand ginger power. It has been sold in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec, and may have been distributed in other provinces and territories.

Other packages of Mr. Right brand Keampferia Galanga Powder with the code AT119 tested negative, but health officials still advise the public to throw them out.

“In our previous communication, we recommended individuals and businesses dispose of all Mr. Right brand Keampferia Galanga Powder regardless of the packaging code. We continue to recommend this action out of an abundance of caution as we do not know if there was cross-contamination of this product, and the consequences of consuming even a small amount are very severe,” Dr. Pakes added.

Pubic health says the distributor of the product has also voluntarily recalled the product

Several people fell seriously ill after suspected poisoning at Delight Restaurant & BBQ in Markham. CITYNEWS

In the meantime, public health says only one person remains in hospital, and all the people sickened by the toxin after eating at Delight Restaurant & BBQ over the weekend are improving.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Ministry of Health are working to limit the exposure to the contaminated products and checking to see if it’s being sold anywhere else.

Delight Restaurant and BBQ has been given the all-clear to reopen after it passed a re-inspection on Wednesday.

Dr. Pakes said 12 people went to a local hospital, and four were treated in intensive care on Sunday within about an hour of eating the same chicken dish from the restaurant located near Markham Road and Castlemore Avenue.

In March, B.C.’s poison information centre warned the public not to consume Wing Hing brand sand ginger powder after two people were hospitalized. The product, in that case, was also suspected to have been contaminated with aconite.

Common symptoms of aconite poisoning include weakness, nausea, and dizziness. Other symptoms include numbness to the face and, in severe cases, the patient could fall into a coma.

Anyone else who dined at the Markham restaurant on Saturday or Sunday and is experiencing symptoms of illness is being asked to contact Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653.

With files from The Canadian Press