Newsroom > Food Recalls and Allergy Alerts HEALTH HAZARD ALERTVARIOUS BRANDS OF IMPORTED FRESH SPINACH MAY CONTAIN E. coli 0157:H7 BACTERIARelated Alerts:
2006-09-15 |
2006-09-15 | 2006-09-18 OTTAWA, September 15, 2006 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume various brands of fresh spinach, described below, packaged in the United States, because the products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 bacteria. This CFIA alert has been initiated in response to a recall by Natural Selection Foods, LLC, of San Juan Bautista, California. Natural Selection Foods, LLC, of San Juan Bautista, California, is recalling all of its products that contain spinach in all the brands they pack with "Best if Used by Dates" of August 17, 2006 through October 1, 2006. Natural Selection Foods, LLC brands include: Natural Selection Foods, Pride of San Juan, Earthbound Farm, Bellissima, Dole, Rave Spinach, Emeril, Sysco, O Organic, Fresh Point, River Ranch, Superior, Nature’s Basket, Pro-Mark, Compliments, Trader Joe’s, Ready Pac, Jansal Valley, Cheney Brothers, Coastline, D’Arrigo Brothers, Green Harvest, Mann, Mills Family Farm, Pro*Act, Premium Fresh, Snoboy, The Farmer’s Market, Tanimura & Antle, President’s Choice, Cross Valley, and Riverside Farms. These products include spinach and any salad with spinach in a blend, both retail and food service products. Products that do not contain spinach are not part of this recall. These products may have been distributed nationally. There have been no reported illnesses, in Canada, associated with the consumption of these products. In an effort to provide the public with current information, the CFIA issued a general advisory earlier today (http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/corpaffr/newcom/2006/20060915e.shtml). At that time, the potentially affected products had not yet been identified. Food contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with this bacteria may cause serious and potentially life-threatening illnesses. Symptoms include severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. Some people may have seizures or strokes and some may need blood transfusions and kidney dialysis. Others may live with permanent kidney damage. In severe cases of illness, people may die. The CFIA will be working with the Canadian importers to remove all of the affected products from the marketplace. The CFIA will continue to work closely with the USFDA to investigate whether other companies and brands are involved. 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. For information on E. coli O157:H7, visit the Food Facts web page at http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/concen/causee.shtml. For information on receiving recalls by e-mail, or for other food safety facts, visit our web site at www.inspection.gc.ca. - 30 - Media enquiries:
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