OTTAWA, June 22, 2007 -- The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Hershey Canada are advising the public that certain Hershey chocolate products previously recalled on November 12, 2006, may be available for sale through some independent and private retail outlets.
As a result of an ongoing investigation into recent incidents involving the theft of recalled Hershey Chocolate products in Toronto, Ontario, and the discovery of a quantity of products between the Lindsay and Hamilton area, the CFIA has reason to believe that some recalled Hershey products may have re entered the marketplace. The affected products may be in circulation through a number of independent distributors, private wholesalers, liquidators and flea markets operating in Ontario.
Consumers are advised to check the codes on all Hershey products in their possession and before purchasing to ensure they do not bear codes that begin with numbers ranging from 6417 to 6455 inclusive.
The CFIA advises all retailers and wholesalers to check their Hershey Chocolate products and remove any product with affected codes from distribution immediately.
Various Hershey chocolate products manufactured by Hershey Canada Inc. bearing codes beginning with numbers ranging from 6417 to 6455 inclusive were recalled for possible Salmonella contamination on November 12, 2006. For a completed list of recalled products associated with the affected codes see the CFIA website at http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/corpaffr/recarapp/2006/20061112e.shtml.
There have been no confirmed illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.
Food contaminated with Salmonella may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with this bacteria may cause salmonellosis, a foodborne illness. In young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems, salmonellosis may cause serious and sometimes deadly infections. In otherwise healthy people, salmonellosis may cause short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Long-term complications may include severe arthritis.
For more information, consumers and industry can call one of the following numbers:
Hershey's Consumer Relations at 1-800-468-1714.
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 Salmonella, visit the CFIA's Food Facts web page athttp://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/concen/causee.shtml.
For information on receiving recalls by e-mail, or for other food safety facts, visit our web site at www.inspection.gc.ca.
