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Listeria Fear Behind Recall

By Dan Flynn and Suzanna Schreck

No illnesses have been associated with a new recall of ready-to-eat meats for Listeria contamination that is certain to get a lot of attention in Canada.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Zadi Foods Ltd. are warning the public not to consume various processed meat products made by the Ontario company  because these products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Two years ago, 22 mostly elderly Canadians died in a national Listeria outbreak linked to a Maple Leaf Foods plant in Toronto.

This new alert includes 23 meat and cheese packages.

Here is a list of the recalled products, with Uniform Product Codes and product names.   All are for all lots and all dates except where Best Buy dates are provided:

-CAS22630 Casa Italia Prosciutto Ham Bulk Sliced 500g

-CAS30100 6 79648 30100 0 Casa Italia Ham Prosciutto 125g

-CAS15000 CAS15000A Casa Italia Boneless Prosciutto

-CAS15020 Casa Italia Gastronomia Prosciutto Matonella

-CAS15020 Italfoods Boneless Prosciutto

-LN015060 Longo's Boneless Prosciutto special reserve aged 12 months

-ITL15020 Italissima boneless Ham Prosciutto Grand Reserva boneless skinless

-ITL15010 Italissima boneless Ham Prosciutto Grand Reserva boneless skinless (matonella square)

-ITL15000 Italissima Prosciutto Boneless Grand Reserva

-GOL15000 Golosini Prosciutto Boneless

-VIT15080 Vitorio Prosciutto Boneless

-CAS22620 Genoa Salami Shaved Bulk 500g 2309 10AU25, 10JL06

-CAS22624 Soppressata Piccante Shaved Bulk 500g 2329 10JL06, 10JL19, 2260 10AU25

-CAS30205 6 79648 30205 2 Casa Italia Genoa Light Salami150g 2295 10MA18

-CAS30210 6 79648 30210 6 Casa Italia Genoa Salami 150g 2309 10AU23

-CAS30220 6 79648 30220 5 Casa Italia Genoa Hot Salami 150g 2357 10AU23

-CAS30240 6 79648 30240 3 Casa Italia Calabrese Hot Salami 150g 2364 10SE05, 2294 10MA10

-CAS30260 6 79648 30260 1 Casa Italia Pancetta Italian Style 150g RP0044 10MA17

-CAS31240 C.I. Soppressata Piccante Salami Sliced 200g 2385 10OC26

-CAS31700 C.I. Pancetta Rolled Mild 1kg RP0044 10JL06, RP0046 10JL19

-CAS32210 6 79648 32210 4 Casa Italia Genoa Salami with Provolone Cheese 200g COMBO PACK 2275-1407 10MA10, 2273-1407 10MA10

-SOB10774 0 68820 10774 3 Compliments Milanese Salami 175g 2342 10SE20, 2265 10MA11, 2296 10JL12

-EMM01934 0 64445 01934 8 Emma Provolone Cheese 125g

CFIA says some of these products would have been sold to consumers at deli counters.  However, the original brand and/or best before dates may not have been transferred at the deli counters to consumer packages. Persons who may have purchased these products and do not know original brand and code are advised to check with their retailer or supplier to determine if they have the affected product.

These products have been distributed nationally.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

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.

The manufacturer, Zadi Foods Ltd., Brampton, ON is voluntarily recalling the affected products from the marketplace. CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

For more information, consumers and industry can call one of the following numbers:  Vincenzo DiBattisia, President, Zadi Foods Ltd. at 1-905-799-6666 x 5234.  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).

Full post as published by Food Safety News on May 11, 2010 (boomark / email).