	Index of Food Recalls
	Food Recall Archives
	Consumer Centre
-	Allergy Alerts and Food Recalls Pamphlet
-	Causes of Food Borne Illness
-	Food Safety Tips and Facts
-	Food Allergens
	Office of Food Safety and Recall
-	Contacts
-	Recall Plans
	Newsroom

Newsroom > Food Recalls and Allergy Alerts > Archives

Notice

This archive of previously issued food recalls and allergy alerts is provided for reference and research purposes.

Users should note that the products listed in the archive have been subject to removal from the marketplace or appropriate corrective action. Food recalls or allergy alerts are not an indication of the food safety status of products produced at a later date.

The following information was transmitted to the news media by the CFIA on March 23, 2003, on behalf of Recettes Maison.

**************************************************************

HEALTH HAZARD ALERT

CERTAIN RECETTES MAISON BRAND PRODUCTS MAY SUPPORT THE GROWTH OF DANGEROUS BACTERIA

Laval, March 23, 2003 - Recettes Maison is warning consumers not to consume certain Recettes Maison brand cooked products as they may support the growth of the bacterium responsible for botulism in humans.

These products were sold refrigerated or unrefrigerated in sealed glass jar containers bearing a paper label that displays the following information: "Recettes Maison, tél : (450) 627-3333, LAVAL, QUÉBEC, PERMIS C-298." All sizes and all "best before" or "date limite d’utilisation optimale" dates are affected by this recall.

Only the following products are affected by this alert:

"sauce" type products	egg plant and parmesan, gigi with ham, jardinière, rosée (chunky), romanov with vodka, tofu sauce, classical rosée, classical tomatoes and basil, mild meat, spicy meat.
"organic sauce" type products	florentine, classical rosée, gigi with tofu, tomato and roasted garlic, mild meat, spicy meat.
"soup" type products	asparagus, beef and barley, cauliflower and cheese, spinach and watercress, spinach and chick peas, millet and spinach, chicken and rice, tofu and chick peas, beets, broccoli, carrots and hazelnuts, vegetables, lentils of the monastery, minestrone, beef and vegetables, split yellow peas, tomato and garlic.
"meal" type products	vegetable couscous, Spanish bulghur, vegetables chili, macaronis with meat, macaronis with soya, florentine spirals, penne rosée sauce, shell pasta jardinière, garlic fettucine, wild rice and lentils.

The manufacturer, Soupe Nature Inc., Laval, Quebec is voluntarily recalling the affected products from the marketplace. These products may have been distributed across Quebec and Ontario. The products may be returned to the point of purchase.

Even though they may not look or smell spoiled, the products should be disposed of or returned to the establishment where they were purchased. Clostridium botulinum bacteria, which causes botulism, may develop in these products, as they were not prepared in a manner that would ensure that they can be safely marketed.

Botulism is a life-threatening illness caused by toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. The first symptoms usually appear 12 to 36 hours after infection. They generally begin with nausea and vomiting, followed by characteristic neurological signs and symptoms.

Recettes Maison is committed to providing its customers with top-quality products and it has been using safe and tested processes for 10 years. The products are being recalled from the marketplace because their manufacturing process was not documented in accordance with the requirements of le Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec ( MAPAQ). Due to these documentation deficiencies, doubt exists concerning the safety of the above-mentioned products. Steps are being taken to ensure that these Recettes Maison products will be brought into compliance with government regulatory requirements.

Recettes Maison reports no illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

The products recalled will be replaced with products identified with the word "NEW".

- 30 -

Media enquiries:

Christine Legault
Recettes Maison
(450) 627-3333

Davendra Sharma (English)
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Office of Food Safety and Recall
(613) 755-2890

Linda Leblanc (French)
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Office of Food Safety and Recall
(613) 760-4112

Top of Page

Important Notices