OTTAWA, January 22, 2008 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is
warning the public not to consume certain pre-packaged and bulk organic sesame
seeds described below because these products may be contaminated with Salmonella.
The affected organic sesame seeds described in the table below are affected
by this alert.
Brand / Distributor
Product description
Size and Codes
Date Sold
Distribution
Shares
Certified Organic Natural Sesame Seed
25 lbs
Lot code - 322007
October 02, 2007 to January 22, 2008 inclusive
New Brunswick
Quebec
Ontario
British Columbia
Mountain Path Inc.
Organic- Biologique
Natural Sesame Seeds
11.34 kg (Shares 25 lbs)
2.5 Kg
1 Kg
200 g
October 02, 2007 to January 22, 2008 inclusive
Ontario
Quebec
Produits Nutri-Forme Inc
Org. Natural Sesame Seeds
350 g
UPC - 8 44613 01185 1
Lot 1185-506
November 01, 2007 to January 22, 2008 inclusive
Quebec
Speerville flour mill
Certified Organic Sesame Seeds
910g (2 lbs)
UPC 0 56574 04285 4
5 lbs
25 lbs
Lot code - 72109
September 21, 2007 to January 22, 2008 inclusive
Atlantic Provinces
Ontario Natural Food Co-op
Sesame Seeds Natural Organic
11.34 Kg (Shares 25 lbs)
1 Kg
November 06, 2007 to January 21, 2008 inclusive
Ontario
Nova Scotia
Quebec
Westpoint Naturals
Organic Unhulled Sesame Seed
200g
UPC - 7 78659 60091 8
400g
UPC - 7 78659 60092 5
2 kg
UPC - 7 78659 60093 2
5kg
UPC - 7 78659 60094 9
11.3 kg
UPC - 7 78659 60095 6
Lot # - Codes ending with numbers 001 to 021 inclusive and 292 to 365
inclusive.
October 19, 2007 to January 22, 2008 inclusive
Alberta
British Columbia
Charlie Brown’s
Organic Unhulled Sesame Seed
200g
UPC - 7 78659 60091 8
400g
UPC - 7 78659 60092 5
5kg
UPC - 7 78659 60094 9
Lot # - Codes ending with numbers 001 to 021 inclusive and 292 to 365
inclusive.
October 19, 2007 to January 22, 2008 inclusive
British Columbia
Health First
Organic Unhulled Sesame Seed
11.3 kg
UPC - 7 78659 60095 6
Lot # - Codes ending with numbers 001 to 021 inclusive and 292 to 365
inclusive.
October 19, 2007 to January 22, 2008 inclusive
British Columbia
Whole Foods Market
Organic Unhulled Sesame Seed
200g
UPC - 7 78659 60091 8
Lot # - Codes ending with numbers 001 to 021 inclusive and 292 to 365
inclusive.
October 19, 2007 to January 22, 2008 inclusive
British Columbia
The Vitamin Centre Stores
Organic Unhulled Sesame Seed
400g
UPC - 7 78659 60092 5
Lot # - Codes ending with numbers 001 to 021 inclusive and 292 to 365
inclusive.
October 19, 2007 to January 22, 2008 inclusive
British Columbia
Valley Natural Health Products
Organic Unhulled Sesame Seed
2 kg
UPC - 7 78659 60093 2
Lot # - Codes ending with numbers 001 to 021 inclusive and 292 to 365
inclusive.
October 19, 2007 to January 22, 2008 inclusive
British Columbia
Sangster’s Health Centres
Organic Unhulled Sesame Seed
400g
UPC - 7 78659 60092 5 Lot #
- Codes ending with numbers 001 to 021 inclusive and 292 to 365 inclusive.
October 19, 2007 to January 22, 2008 inclusive
Alberta
Root’s Natural
Organic Unhulled Sesame Seed
200g
UPC - 7 78659 60091 8
Lot # - Codes ending with numbers 001 to 021 inclusive and 292 to 365
inclusive.
October 19, 2007 to January 22, 2008 inclusive
British Columbia
Homesteader Health Organic
Organic Unhulled Sesame Seed
200g
UPC - 7 78659 60091 8
400g
UPC - 7 78659 60092 5
Lot # - Codes ending with numbers 001 to 021 inclusive and 292 to 365
inclusive.
October 19, 2007 to January 22, 2008
Alberta
British Columbia
Nutraways
Organic Unhulled Sesame Seed
200g
UPC - 7 78659 60091 8
Lot # - Codes ending with numbers 001 to 021 inclusive and 292 to 365
inclusive.
October 19, 2007 to January 22, 2008 inclusive
British Columbia
Capers Organics
Organic Unhulled Sesame Seed
200g
UPC - 7 78659 60091 8
5kg
UPC - 7 78659 60094 9
11.3 kg
UPC - 7 78659 60095 6
Lot # - Codes ending with numbers 001 to 021 inclusive and 292 to 365
inclusive.
October 19, 2007 to January 22, 2008 inclusive
British Columbia
Nature’s Finest Gourmet
Organic Unhulled Sesame Seed
5kg
UPC - 7 78659 60094 9
Lot # - Codes ending with numbers 001 to 021 inclusive and 292 to 365
inclusive.
October 19, 2007 to January 22, 2008 inclusive
British Columbia
The Organic Grocer
Organic Unhulled Sesame Seed
200g
UPC - 7 78659 60091 8
Lot # - Codes ending with numbers 001 to 021 inclusive and 292 to 365
inclusive.
October 19, 2007 to January 22, 2008 inclusive
British Columbia
Small Potatoes Spud.ca
Organic Unhulled Sesame Seed
200g
UPC - 7 78659 60091 8
Lot # - Codes ending with numbers 001 to 021 inclusive and 292 to 365
inclusive.
October 19, 2007 to January 22, 2008 inclusive
British Columbia
Healthyway
Organic Unhulled Sesame Seed
200g
UPC - 7 78659 60091 8
Lot # - Codes ending with numbers 001 to 021 inclusive and 292 to 365
inclusive.
October 19, 2007 to January 22, 2008 inclusive
British Columbia
Maria’s Health Foods
Organic Unhulled Sesame Seed
400g
UPC - 7 78659 60092 5
Lot # - Codes ending with numbers 001 to 021 inclusive and 292 to 365
inclusive.
October 19, 2007 to January 22, 2008 inclusive
British Columbia
Planet Organic Market
Organic Unhulled Sesame Seed
200g
UPC - 7 78659 60091 8
11.3 kg
UPC - 7 78659 60095 6
Lot # - Codes ending with numbers 001 to 021 inclusive and 292 to 365
inclusive.
October 19, 2007 to January 22, 2008 inclusive
Alberta
British Columbia
Power of Food.com
Organic Unhulled Sesame Seed
400g
UPC - 7 78659 60092 5
5kg
UPC - 7 78659 60094 9
Lot # - Codes ending with numbers 001 to 021 inclusive and 292 to 365
inclusive.
October 19, 2007 to January 22, 2008 inclusive
British Columbia
The organic sesame seeds described above may also have been sold at the
retail level in bulk form or in smaller unlabeled store packages. Consumers who
may have purchased organic sesame seeds during the specified time period and
are unsure if they have the affected product are advised to check with the
retail store to determine if their product is affected.
There have been no reported 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.
The affected Organic Sesame Seeds was imported from Uganda. The CFIA is working with the
importer and various Canadian distributors to recall the affected products 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 Salmonella, visit the Food Facts web page at
http://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.
- 30 -
Media enquiries:
Garfield Balsom (English)
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Food Recall and Emergency Response
613-760-4232
Julie Lacoursière (French)
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Food Recall and Emergency Response
613-760-4044
Fact Sheet: Salmonella
Food Safety Facts
Audio Clips for Food Recalls and Allergy
Alerts
