OTTAWA, May 20, 2012 - The public warning issued on May 19, 2012 has been expanded to include new products and Best Before date codes.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public as well as various importers, distributors, retailers and food service establishments such as hotels, restaurants, cafeteria, hospitals and nursing homes not to serve or consume various salads described below because these products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
This is a part of the larger recall of retail and foodservice salads initiated by River Ranch Fresh Foods, LLC, California, USA with distribution in Canada.
The following River Ranch brand salad products are affected by this expanded alert.
The smaller size retail packages of salads have Best Before dates between 12MAY 2012 - 29MAY 2012. The larger size packages of salads sold to foodservice have Julian dates between 118 - 125. The code date is typically located in the upper right hand corner of the packages.
These products may have been distributed nationally.
There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.
Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with this 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 importers listed below are voluntarily recalling the affected products from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recalls.
FreshPoint Vancouver, Ltd. BC
J.E. Russel Produce Ltd., Toronto, ON
Martins Produce Ltd., Saskatoon, SK
Sysco Calgary AB
Sysco Edmonton AB
Sysco Regina SK
Sysco Winnipeg MB
Sysco Thunderbay ON
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 Listeria monocytogenes, visit the Food Facts web page at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/concen/cause/listeriae.shtml.
For information on all food recalls, visit the CFIA's Food Recall Report at: http://active.inspection.gc.ca/eng/corp/recarapp_dbe.asp.
To find out more about receiving recalls by e-mail, and other food safety facts, visit: www.foodsafety.gc.ca. Food and consumer product recalls are also available at http://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca.
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CFIA Media Relations
613-773-6600
