Grocery stores coping with Maple Leaf product recall

Listeria bacteria, found on some of the products produced at Maple Leaf’s plant 97B, is being blamed for the deaths of six people. The illness of at least 20 others is also being attributed to the bacteria.

Store managers immediately complied with the food recall process thanks to electronic notification. “The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has a food recall process in place,” explained Cruikshank. “24/7 we receive, as warranted, electronic messages from the CFIA. In the recall notification it also provides directions and specifics of the product,” she said.

The recall “net” has been cast very wide, however some stores that received the notice may have only had some of the products, others might have had none. “To address the impacted product, if it’s on the shelf, it’s taken off the shelf and there are directions from CFIA as to what to do with that. If it was en route to the store, then the process is such that it doesn’t make it to the store. All things being in the interest of minimizing any possibility that consumers would be able to buy the product,” said Cruikshank.

Consumers who are concerned about any products they have at home or in their freezer should check to see if it is from Plant 97B. Those who have questions about impacted product can return it to the point of sale.

The recall list contains at least 220 products including Best Value Cooked Ham, Bittners/Schneiders Slo-Roast Oven Roasted Boneless turkey breast, Burns bologna, pepperoni, salami and pizza toppings, Hickory Farms beef stick beef sausage, Overlander summer sausage, and Shopsys corned beef, in addition to Maple Leaf name products.

For a complete list of recalled products visit website:

www.inspection.gc.ca/english/corpaffr/recarapp/2008/list97be.shtml

CFIA officials and Maple Leaf executives say more testing is need to determine if the tainted meat directly contributed to any of the deaths.

The disease has an incubation period of up to 90 days. There could be more cases in the coming weeks.

The Public Health Agency of Canada is advising Canadians who are at high risk for Listeriosis, such as the elderly, pregnant women and persons with weakened immune systems to take all necessary precautions to ensure that they avoid the recalled food products that may contain Listeria. Those at high risk should also make sure that they: * Cook leftover foods or ready to eat food until steaming hot before eating. * Avoid unpasteurized (raw) milk or foods made from unpasteurized milk * Wash raw vegetables thoroughly before eating * Wash hands, knives, and cutting boards after handling uncooked foods. * Consume perishable and ready-to-eat foods as soon as possible

Listeria causes fever, headaches, muscle aches and gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea and diarrhea. The bacterial infection, Listeriosis, can be caused by eating contaminated food.

Symptoms usually appear within three to 21 days and up to 70 days after consuming contaminated food. People who believe they have experienced symptoms of illness are urged to contact their health care provider immediately.

For all consumers, if for any reason you do not know where your ready to eat meats came from – you are advised to throw it out.

For more information call 1-800 O Canada or visit www.publichealth.gc.ca"