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Canada Expands Smoked Meat Recall

By Dan Flynn and Suzanna Schreck

The public warning issued on June 15, 2010 in Canada regarding packaged meat products has been expanded to include additional distribution information.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Lesters Foods Limited are warning the public not to consume the Lesters brand Montréal Smoked Meat pouches described below because the products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The affected product, Lesters brand Montréal Smoked Meat, is sold in 2 x 100 g packages bearing UPC 0 57730 01098 4, Establishment number 289 and a Best Before date between 10JL16 (July 16, 2010) and 10JL24 (July 24, 2010) inclusive.

This product has been distributed in Ontario, Quebec, the Atlantic provinces, Nunavut, and may have been distributed nationally.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.

Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with these bacteria may cause listeriosis, a foodborne illness. Listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Pregnant women, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk. Infected pregnant women may experience only a mild, flu-like illness, however, infections during pregnancy can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or even stillbirth.

Lesters Foods Ltd., Laval, QC is voluntarily recalling the affected product from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

For more information consumers and industry can call the CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 / TTY 1-800-465-7735 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday).

For information on Listeria monocytogenes, visit the CFIA Food Facts Webpage.

Full post as published by Food Safety News on June 23, 2010 (boomark / email).