Have you purchased any of these for your anti-cancer kitchen?
June 5, 2014 update: Another company is now issuing a recall for sprouted chia products. So far, unsprouted (regular) is still looking fine. Check out the comments below for more insight into what’s gone wrong.
Navitas Naturals is voluntarily recalling three products in the US and in Canada containing organic sprouted chia powder due to contamination with Salmonella:
- Navitas Naturals Organic Sprouted Chia Powder, 8oz, UPC 858847000369 with best buy dates from 04/30/2015 through 09/05/2015
- Navitas Naturals Omega Blend Sprouted Smoothie Mix, 8oz, UPC 858847000314 with best buy dates from 07/29/2015 through 09/19/2015
- Williams-Sonoma Omega 3 Smoothie Mixer, 8 oz, SKU 506436 with best buy dates from 09/12/2015 through 10/02/2015
For more information, contact their Consumer Care Team at 1-888-886-3879 from 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. PST, weekdays.
Why sprout chia anyway?
Sprouting seeds, nuts, beans and grains decreases their phytic acid, which means their protein and many minerals are more readily available to your body. But phytic acid’s been called “the dilemma of human nutrition” because it does have some value, including cancer-fighting properties. One of chia’s main benefits is that it’s high in omega 3 fatty acids, and sprouting doesn’t appear to enhance omega 3s. That means if you purchase chia for your anti-cancer kitchen, it doesn’t really need to be sprouted; just avoid eating it with major sources of protein, calcium and zinc.
Eat and Beat Cancer 
Why do you suggest not eating chia with sources of protein, calcium and zinc?
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The phytic acid in the seeds will bind amino acids and many minerals in any foods you eat at the same time, making those amino acids and minerals unavailable to your body. Calcium and zinc are two minerals that it binds. I’ve read, however, that eating onions and garlic at the same time can help make the zinc more available.
Here’s a longer explanation: https://eatandbeatcancer.wordpress.com/2014/03/01/anti-cancer-diets-and-the-pitfalls-of-plants-part-1-copper-and-zinc/
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so, i should not add chia to my almond milk [ hi calcium] protein shake[ hi protein] ??
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Good question. That’s correct. The phytic acid in the chia will bind the calcium and protein in the other foods. One scientist I’ve spoken with suggests eating phytic acid at least 6 hours away from major sources of calcium, zinc and protein.
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You are correct. Chia is high in omega 3s. I don’t really know what happened with this particular product that warranted a recall, but I do know that sprouting anything must be done carefully. To sprout seeds, you need to keep them damp–put them in water, rinse them often, continually check for mold. Maybe the sprouting bred bacteria, maybe the water was contaminated, maybe even the seeds were contaminated from the start.
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