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Canada's Listeria Scare Over Deli Meat Expands

By Dan Flynn and Suzanna Schreck

The original July 20 public warning has now been expanded in Canada to include additional recalled products, best before codes, and distribution for the affected products.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Dats Déli Européen are warning the public not to consume the meat products described below because these products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

All best before dates up to and including August 29, 2010 (29AU10) of the products listed below are affected by this alert. These ready-to-eat meats are sold in various sizes, bearing Establishment number 155.

Both the sliced and unsliced formats of these products are affected.

The expanded recall list includes:

-Roast Pork, UPC: 0 67229 00023 5

-Black Forest Ham, UPC: 0 67229 00025 9

-Old Fashioned Smoked Meat (sliced), UPC: 0 67229 00139 3

-Seasoned Roast Beef, UPC: 0 67229 00053 2

-Smoked Turkey Breast, UPC: 0 67229 00079 2

-Cooked Roast Beef, UPC: 0 67229 00081 5

-Traditional Style Smoked Meat, UPC: 0 67229 00144 7

-Pepperoni, UPC: 0 6722900164 5

-Cooked Turkey Breast, UPC: 0 67229 00179 9

-Turkey Smoked Meat, UPC: 0 67229 01879 7

-Les Caprices d'Al Adhba

-Smoked Beef (Bacon-style)/sliced

-None Les Viandes Soleil

-Smoked Beef (Bacon-style)/sliced

-Old-Fashioned Smoked Meat, UPC: 0 67229 00039 6

These products also may have been sold to consumers at deli counters. However, the original brand and/or Best Before dates may not have been transferred to consumer packages. Persons who may have purchased these products and do not know the original brand and/or code are advised to check with their retailer or supplier to determine if they have the affected product.

These products are known to have been distributed in Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia and may have been distributed throughout Canada.

No  illnesses have been 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, Dats Déli Européen Inc., Montreal, QC, is voluntarily recalling the affected products from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

Ready-to-eat meats were responsible for a 2008 Listeria outbreak that killed 22 mostly elderly Canadians.

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