Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Food Recall Resource Centre

Allergy Alerts and Food Recalls

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What foods are most commonly associated with food allergies?

There are many foods that may contain ingredients that can cause adverse or negative reactions in very sensitive individuals. Most adverse food reactions are caused by the following foods and products made from them:

• peanuts
• tree nuts (almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts/filberts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pinenuts, pistachios, walnuts)
• sesame seeds
• milk
• eggs
• fish, crustaceans (e.g. crab, crayfish, lobster, shrimp) and shellfish (e.g. clams, mussels, oysters, scallops)
• soy
• wheat
• sulphites

These products may be listed differently on food labels. For example, "soy" may appear on a label as "lecithin".

For more information, see the fact sheet "Labelling of Foods Causing Allergies and Sensitivities" on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) web site at www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/labeti/allerg/allergense.shtml

What is the Canadian Food Inspection Agency responsible for?

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is the Government of Canada’s regulator for food safety, animal health and plant protection. Food safety and consumer protection are essential to the health of Canadians. At the CFIA, the safety of Canada’s food supply is central to everything we do.

The food industry is responsible for producing safe food, but sometimes situations occur that may pose a health risk and it becomes necessary to have food products removed from store shelves. When this happens, the CFIA responds quickly and effectively.

What’s a food recall?

When the CFIA becomes aware of a potential hazard associated with a food, either through a consumer complaint, routine inspection activities or information from the food industry, an investigation is launched to gather further information. This may include laboratory testing.

The CFIA’s investigation often leads to a food recall. CFIA’s inspectors gather pertinent information on the product and its distribution and then work with the food company involved in the recall to make sure that all hazardous products have been removed from the store shelves.

In cases where the product poses a serious health risk, the CFIA issues a public warning advising consumers through the media. These public warnings are posted as Food Recalls / Allergy Alerts on our web site www.inspection.gc.ca

What can you do?

Be informed. If you or anyone you know has food allergies or would like to receive information about foods being recalled, sign up for the CFIA’s free e-mail "Allergy Alerts and Food Recalls" subscription service available at www.inspection.gc.ca.

When you sign up you will automatically receive the food recall public warnings and be notified which products are being recalled from the marketplace.

Being informed about food recalls is helpful, practical and in some cases, can be life-saving!

What is the Government doing about food safety?

The Government of Canada is committed to providing safe food to all Canadians. The CFIA, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Health Canada work closely with provincial, territorial and municipal partners to meet this goal. In addition, food safety is a key area for action under the Agricultural Policy Framework.

Food safety and quality is a priority of the Government of Canada. Engaged in an ongoing dialogue with Canadians and working with provinces and territories, the Government is developing tools and programs to ensure that Canada meets and exceeds the highest standards anywhere for food safety and quality.

Canada is putting systems in place on the farm and throughout the agri-food chain – from the field to the fork – to better prevent, monitor and catch any threats to the quality and safety of Canadian farm products. We are working toward a seamless, nation-wide assurance system that shows the world that food in Canada – anywhere in the production chain – is safe and of the highest quality.

Where can I get more information?

For more information or to subscribe to the free "Allergy Alerts and Food Recalls" e-mail subscription service, contact the CFIA at: www.inspection.gc.ca or 1-800-442-2342 (8:00 am to 4:00 pm local time - Monday to Friday).

For information on this and other Government of Canada programs and services call 1 800 O-Canada (1 800 622-6232) TTY 1 800 465-7735

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