Recall on cut cantaloupe products

NEWS RELEASE

CANADIAN FOOD INSPECTION AGENCY

************************* Health hazard alert - Sun Rich brand and A&P brand cut cantaloupe products may contain salmonella bacteria

OTTAWA - 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.

Sun Rich / Fruit Salad / 511 g / 18 oz UPC 0 60243 00540 8 Best Before 2008-MAR-26 Sun Rich / Fruit Salad / 907 g / 32 oz UPC0 60243 00541 5 Best Before 2008-MAR-26 Sun Rich / Fruit Tray / 1.82 kg / 64 oz UPC 0 60243 01100 3 Best Before 2008-MAR-26

Sun Rich / Cantaloupe Chunks / 511 g / 18 oz UPC 0 60243 01056 3 Best Before 2008-MAR-26

Sun Rich / Mixed Melon / 511 g / 18 oz UPC 0 60243 01059 4 Best Before 2008-MAR-26

A & P / Fruit Salad / 3.63 kg / 8 lbs UPC 0 60243 00573 6 Best Before 2008-APR-08

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 [email protected].

CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 / TTY 1-800-465-7735 (8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday).

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