Ottawa, June 3, 2008 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) are closely following an outbreak investigation by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) into recent illnesses caused by Salmonella Saintpaul that may be associated with certain types of uncooked, fresh tomatoes consumed in the United States.
There have been no illnesses reported in Canada linked to the U.S. outbreak. PHAC has alerted public health officials in Canada. PHAC officials will continue to work with their public health colleagues in Canada and the U.S. to monitor the situation. More information on the CDC’s investigation is available at http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/saintpaul/.
CFIA is working with the FDA on this investigation. If the investigation identifies a source of contamination and implicates tomatoes that may have entered distribution for export to Canada, the CFIA will take immediate action to advise the public and verify the effective removal of the product from the marketplace. For more information on the FDA investigation please visit their website at http://www.fda.gov.
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.
Consumers should take the following steps to reduce the risk of contracting Salmonella from tomatoes:
- Before cutting fresh tomato, wash it thoroughly with potable running water before you prepare and eat it.
- Before and after handling tomatoes wash your hands thoroughly, for at least 20 seconds, with warm water and soap.
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 webpage 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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Media enquiries:
For information:
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Media relations: (613) 228-6682
Public Health Agency of Canada
Media Relations: (613) 948-7970
