A food supplement regularly used in smoothies may have been contaminated with the salmonella bacteria.

Health officials warn that a consignment of products made by health food company Navitas Naturals could contain the bacteria, which can cause prolonged bouts of food poisoning.

Navitas Naturals products containing organic sprouted chia powder have been recalled in the US, where authorities from the Food & Drug Administration have issued an import alert.

This morning a Health Ministry spokesman said the products “contaminated with strains of salmonella bacteria which can cause diarrheal illness ... may have been exported to Bermuda”.

“Officials in the Ministry have alerted local food stores, but it would be important that the general public take note of the risk as the product may be able to be purchased online or from smaller establishments on the island. Chia powder is a common ingredient in smoothies,” the spokesman said.

“If you have access to the affected products it would be advisable to not further consume them. If you believe that you have consumed the affected products, and have become ill with diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, and/or fever, please seek medical advice from your healthcare provider.”

Salmonella illness is usually self-limiting, occurring 12 to 72 hours after infection and lasting four to seven days. Healthy individuals usually make a full recovery without treatment.

For further information on the specifics of the recalled products, go to the US FDA website: http://www.fda.gov/Food/RecallsOutbreaksEmergencies/Outbreaks/ucm399235.htm