Alerts & Recalls

When we discover problems with any of our products we list alerts and recall notices here. For example, there may be safety concerns with a certain lot of dried herb or we may discover that certain batches of seeds or plants are incorrectly identified. Usually we will advise to destroy or discard such products or, in some cases, we will ask to return them to us. If you are affected by any of notices here please let us know.

Cinnamon Yam Recall

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has notified us that cinnamon yam (also known as Chinese yam) is considered an invasive weed in Canada.  If you purchased cinnamon yam plants or seeds from Richters and still have plants, they should be returned to us as soon as possible for disposal to prevent the spread of this invasive plant.

According to the CFIA:

Chinese yam (Dioscorea polystachya) is an invasive plant regulated as a pest in Canada under the Plant Protection Act. Importation and domestic movement of regulated plants has been prohibited since 2011. Other common names for this species are: Chinese-potato and cinnamon-vine. Scientific names include: Dioscorea batatas, Dioscorea cayenensis var. pseudobatatas, Dioscorea decaisneana, Dioscorea doryphora, Dioscorea opposita, Dioscorea oppositifolia, Dioscorea potaninii, Dioscorea rosthornii, Dioscorea swinhoei, and Dioscorea trinervia.

To learn more about this plant consult the CFIA’s fact sheet on Chinese yam.

Please note that this recall does not imply that the plants are harmful to humans or animals, only that the plants are considered a threat to the Canada’s ecosystems should they become established in the wild. 

If you purchased any plants or seeds, please contact us by email at [email protected] for instructions on how to return them to us.

Posted 2022-07-23.