More Chia Suppliers Reassure Against Salmonella

Proprietary Nutritionals Inc. (PNI; Kearny, NJ) is the latest chia supplier reassuring customers about the safety of its chia ingredients, following industry reports of Salmonella-related recalls. The company says that its third party–certified Good Manufacturing Practices and HACCP procedures preserve the safety of its Benexia chia ingredients. Benexia was not one of the ingredients involved in the recalls.

“We have appropriate prevention measures, from the beginning to the end of the supply chain, in order to avoid microbiological proliferation,” said president Dean Mosca, in a press release.

Moisture control is key to Salmonella control, and PNI says it practices this at all points. The company does not use water during production or processing, “except for very specific cases where its use and its quality are controlled.” Moreover, during harvest, moisture levels are controlled and excess humidity avoided, including at plant reception points.

Other safe practices include inspecting soil to avoid contamination (and to ensure optimal nutritional content), and daily monitoring tracks any presence of plague or contamination.

“There are more than 25 physicochemical and microbiological tests performed for every batch, including Salmonella, prior to the final release of the product,” the company states.

Jennifer Grebow
Editor-in-Chief
Nutritional Outlook magazine jennifer.grebow@ubm.com

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