Meat recalls grow amid listeria concerns

NEWS RELEASE

CANADIAN FOOD INSPECTION AGENCY

************************* Hazard alert - certain Siena brand dried meat products may contain listeria monocytogenes

OTTAWA, March 12, 2010 – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Siena Foods Ltd. are warning the public not to consume certain Siena brand dried meat products described below because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The following products are affected by this alert.

- Siena brand Coppa sold in variable weight packages weighing approximately 300-400 g bearing best before dates 10 JN21 or no date.

- Siena brand Prosciuttini or Prosciuttini Hot sold in variable weight packages weighing approximately 300-400 g bearing best before dates 10 JN20, 10JN21, 10JN22.

These products have been distributed in Ontario and Alberta.

However, they may have been distributed nationally.

This alert is based on positive test results for Listeria monocytogenes in a product sample and CFIA's investigation of these findings.

The CFIA is aware of reported listeriosis illness in Ontario and is collaborating with health authorities in Ontario in their investigation of these illnesses.

This alert is associated with the Health Hazard Alert issued on March 11, 2010.

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 manufacturer, Siena Foods Ltd., Toronto, ON, is voluntarily recalling these 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 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday).

For information on Listeria monocytogenes, visit the Food Facts web page.

For information on all food recalls, visit the CFIA’s Food Recall Report here.

To find out more about receiving recalls by e-mail, and other food safety facts, visit our website.

************************* Earlier SooToday.com coverage of this story

Listeria contamination results in prosciutto recall