OTTAWA, March 25, 2008 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Sun Rich Fresh Foods Inc. are warning the public not to consume the Sun Rich Brand and the A&P Brand Cut Cantaloupe products described below because these products may be contaminated with Salmonella.
The following affected products sold at retail contain cantaloupes from the Honduran grower and packer Agropecuaria Montelibano which appear to be associated with a Salmonella Litchfield outbreak in the United States and Canada.
However, it is possible that other distributers or retailers may have received cantaloupes from Agropecuaria Montelibano. The CFIA is continuing its investigation.
These products have been distributed in Ontario and Quebec.
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 manufacturer, Sun Rich Fresh Foods Inc., Brampton, ON, is voluntarily recalling the affected products from the marketplace. In addition, the manufacturer is also recalling various Cut Cantaloupe Products from Food Service accounts such as hotels, restaurants and institutions in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.
For more information, consumers and industry can call one of the following numbers:
Sun Rich Fresh Foods Inc, 1-800-661-0087 (330) or by email at customerservice@sun-rich.com or visit our website at http://www.sun-rich.com/company/pressreleases/pressreleases.html
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
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Carl Svangtun
Sun Rich Fresh Foods Inc.
1-800-661-0087 ext 308
Shashi Kulkarni (English)
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Food Recall and Emergency Response
613-368-1622
Linda LeBlanc (French)
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Food Recall and Emergency Response
613-760-4112
