Health Hazard Alert - Sure Slice Brand Roast Beef And Corned Beef

[skittlesnbits]

I just received this warning in my email and wanted to pass it along.

HEALTH HAZARD ALERT - SURE SLICE BRAND ROAST BEEF AND CORNED BEEF MAY CONTAIN LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES

OTTAWA, August 17, 2008 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Maple Leaf Consumer Foods are warning the public not to serve or consume Sure Slice brand Roast Beef and Corned Beef described below because these products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The following Sure Slice brand sliced meat products in 1 kg packages are affected by this alert.

1. Sure Slice brand Roast Beef (Product Code 21333), Best Before AU 09.
2. Sure Slice brand Corned Beef (Product Code 21444), Best Before AU 23.

These products have been distributed nationally, primarily to food service institutions such as restaurants, hospitals and nursing homes. In addition, these products may also be sold at deli counters.

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

Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with this bacteria may cause listeriosis, a foodborne illness. Listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk. Infected pregnant women may experience only a mild, flu-like illness, however, infections during pregnancy can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or even stillbirth.

The manufacturer, Maple Leaf Consumer Foods, Burlington, ON, 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:

Maple Leaf Consumer Foods at 1-800-568-5801;

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).