OTTAWA, May 24, 2012 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public as well as importers and manufacturers not to use "Tempeh Starter Yeast" and "Super Starter Yeast" described below because these products may be contaminated with Salmonella.
The "Tempeh Starter Yeast" and "Super Starter Yeast", products of Indonesia, were sold in 30 g, 50 g, 250 g and 1000 g sealed, clear plastic packages marked with a computer printed label.
You may have purchased these products through direct mail orders from the US supplier, Indonesianfoodmart.com of Rockville, MD. These products have been recalled in the USA, Canada and several other countries.
These products may have been distributed nationally.
There have been several reported illnesses in the USA associated with the consumption of Tempeh made with the recalled yeast products. However, there are no reported illnesses to date in Canada.
Food contaminated with Salmonella may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with these 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 diarrhoea. Long-term complications may include severe arthritis.
The CFIA is working with the Canadian importers & distributors to remove 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/cause/salmonellae.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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