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HEALTH HAZARD ALERT

LLANO AND NATURE’S PARTNER BRAND CANTALOUPES MAY CONTAIN SALMONELLA BACTERIA

OTTAWA, November 18, 2006 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Canada Safeway Ltd. are warning the public not to consume the Llano and Nature’s Partner brand cantaloupes described below because these cantaloupes may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The affected cantaloupes are imported from the USA under the Llano and Nature’s Partner brand names. The affected cantaloupes have been distributed in Safeway stores and other grocery outlets in Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Yukon and Northwest Territories from November 7 up to and including November 18.

Consumers who have purchased whole cantaloupe or in-store products containing pieces of fresh cantaloupe and are not sure of the brand should inquire at the place of purchase to verify if the stores have received the affected product.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these cantaloupes.

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.

Canada Safeway Ltd., Calgary, Alberta, is voluntarily recalling the affected cantaloupes from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

For more information, consumers and industry can call one of the following numbers:

David Ryzebol, Canada Safeway Ltd., at 403-730-3511;
CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 / TTY 1-800-465-7735 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday).

For information on Salmonella, visit:

Food Facts web page at http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/concen/causee.shtml

Food Safety Facts for Cantaloupe at http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/concen/specif/cantae.shtml

For information on receiving recalls by e-mail, or for other food safety facts, visit our web site at www.inspection.gc.ca.

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