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Allergy Definition

An allergy is the immune system's reaction to certain substances. Symptoms can include swelling of the throat, breathing difficulties or rashes, and usually occur a few minutes after contact.

Allergy Information

If you suffer from a food allergy, you should get as much information as possible on your condition. Our website at www.inspection.gc.ca your doctor or your local food allergy association are good information sources.

Allergy Precautions

If you suffer from a food allergy, you should always read the ingredients list and pay special attention to label warnings. If your allergy is severe, you should always carry your epinephrine prescription with you, and know how to use it. When in doubt about a particular food, avoid it.

Allergens Label

If you suffer from food allergy, you should always read the label and the ingredients list before consuming a food product. If there is no ingredients list, or if you are not familiar with the ingredients, just avoid the product.

Allergens Undeclared

A food may contain ingredients undeclared on the label for a variety of reasons: because the food or the ingredients was contaminated during processing; or because the label itself is incomplete or erroneous as a result of changes in recipe or supplies.

Botulism Prevention

Avoid canned or bottled food from non commercial sources, including farmer=s markets and home made gifts. When canning at home, be sure to follow strict canning procedures because they are designed to achieve a safe product. Always refrigerate food when the label actually says to do so. And never consume food that does not look or smell normal.

Botulism Symptoms

Someone suffering from botulism might experience symptoms like weakness, vertigo, trouble speaking, breathing and swallowing, double vision, paralysis. You could even die. Symptoms usually appear 12 to 36 hours after consuming contaminated food. If you think you might be experiencing any of these symptoms, please seek immediate medical attention.

Cooking Temperatures

Be sure to cook your meat to a safe internal temperature in order to kill any harmful bacteria that might be in it. The only way to tell is to use a food thermometer. Your ground beef and ground pork is done at 71 degrees Celcius. And Health Canada recommends that you cook your poultry to 85 degrees Celcius.

E-coli Symptoms

People infected with EColi 0157:H7 can experience severe stomach cramps, vomiting, mild fever and bloody diarrhea. Symptoms usually appear 2 to 10 days after consuming contaminated food. While most people recover within 7 to 10 days, some can suffer serious kidney problems and may even die.

Infection Prevention

One of the most effective ways to prevent foodborne illness is to wash your hands before and after preparing food. It is also very important to wash your counter, cutting board and containers after food preparation. Wash your fruits and vegetables in clean running water and avoid contact between raw meat or their juices and other foods.

Listeriosis Symptoms

If you have Listeriosis, you might have nausea, cramps, headaches, fever, constipation or diarrhea. Symptoms generally appear two to 90 days after consuming food contaminated with Listeria. Although most people recover on their own, some people might experience more severe or long term consequences like septicaemia or meningitis. They could even die.

Listeriosis Vulnerables

Listeriosis can be particularly dangerous for pregnant women, newborns, seniors and people with a weakened immune system. Pregnant women must be particularly careful since Listeria can cause premature delivery or even still birth.

Recall Information

If you want to get E-mail information about our food recalls, you can subscribe free to our Food Recalls and Allergy Alerts notifcation list. Visit our web site at www.inspection.gc.ca.

Recall Investigation

A food safety investigation can lead to a recall. Our inspectors gather information about the product and its distribution, and work with the involved company to make sure all products subject to the recall are taken off the market.

Salmonella Symptoms

A Salmonella infection can cause stomach cramps, fever and diarrhea. Symptoms generally occur 6 to 72 hours after consuming food contaminated with Salmonella. While most people recover within a few days, some may require hospitalization. Others might experience more serious long term consequences like septicaemia and reactive arthritis.