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HEALTH HAZARD ALERT

CERTAIN PHILLIPS BRAND PASTEURIZED CANNED CRAB MEAT PRODUCTS MAY CONTAIN DANGEROUS BACTERIA

OTTAWA, October 28, 2006 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Export Packers Company Limited are warning the public not to consume certain Phillips brand Pasteurized canned Crab Meat products described below because these products may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum. Toxins produced by this bacteria may cause botulism, a life-threatening illness.

The following Phillips brand Pasteurized Crab Meats, products of Indonesia, packed in 440 g drained weight cans for Phillips Foods Inc., Baltimore, MD, USA, are affected by this alert.

All codes are affected by this alert.

These products have been distributed only in Canada.

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

Food contaminated with Clostridium botulinum toxin may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with the toxin may cause nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, headache, double vision, dry throat, respiratory failure and paralysis. In severe cases of illness, people may die.

The importer, Export Packers Company Limited, Brampton, Ontario, is voluntarily recalling the affected products 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:

Export Packers Company Limited
John Harris (Western Manager) 778-229-5020
Mark Tytel (Ontario Manager) 416-587-4010
Florence Tang (QA Manager) 905-792-9700 x266 / 647-297-1852

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 Clostridium botulinum, 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.

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