A deadly poison contaminated with ginger powder, used particularly in Asian cuisine, would have caused 11 patients in Ontario.

“The recalled product is sold in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec and may have been distributed in other provinces and territories,” the Public Health Agency of Canada said in a statement Friday (PHAC).

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has issued a food recall alert for Mr. Right brand of Keampferia galanga powder (sand ginger powder). The product is sold in a 454g pack and carries UPC 69 892102 8038.

As of September 2, PHAC has reported 11 people in Ontario who experienced symptoms consistent with aconitine poisoning after consuming a meal served at a restaurant using the recalled product. No deaths were reported, but five people were hospitalized after eating their meal.

No additional cases have been reported outside of Ontario at this time, but distribution and use of this product in other provinces may result in additional cases.
Health Canada nationwide recommends that the recalled galangal powder or other products containing this ingredient not be consumed, used, sold or served
“If you have the recalled product at home, carefully wrap the product in a plastic bag, throw it away and wash your hands,” says the institution.

Health Canada also recommends washing the surfaces and storage areas of the ginger powder in question, as well as any utensils that have come into contact with it.

Ingesting aconite toxin can result in a variety of symptoms that can appear minutes to hours after ingesting the product. We notice: numbness or tingling of the tongue, lips or limbs, abdominal cramps or pain, nausea, vomiting, weakness, irregular or fast heartbeat.

Aconitine comes from certain plants and roots that contain alkaloid toxins that can cause serious illness and even death.