The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a food recall warning for Fresh and Local brand Turkey, Bacon Sub. The warning has been issued due to the presence of Listeria monocytogenes.
Recalled Product
Brand: Fresh and Local
Product: Turkey, Bacon Sub
Size: 205g
UPC: 8 77838 48482 7
Codes: Best before 22SE21, 22SE22, 22SE25, 22SE26
The recalled product has been sold in British Columbia.
What is Listeria?
Listeria is a type of bacteria. There are many strains of Listeria, but only one of them, Listeria monocytogenes, is known to cause food-borne illness. The affected food might not look or smell spoiled, but still poses a food safety risk.
Listeria infection is known as ‘listeriosis.’ Symptoms include nausea, fever, diarrhea, cramps, vomiting, constipation, and head and muscle aches. Pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems and the elderly are particularly at risk.
In extreme cases, Listeria monocytogenes can spread to the nervous system and cause a brain infection or blood poisoning. Severe listeriosis can be fatal. Symptoms include headache, confusion, loss of balance and/or stiffness in the neck. Symptoms may appear up to 70 days after exposure to the bacteria. Severe listeriosis can be fatal.
The types of food that are most likely to become contaminated with Listeria include:
- Raw fruits and vegetables (e.g. sprouts, romaine lettuce, cantaloupe)
- Meat (e.g. pâté, deli meat, hot dogs)
- Seafood (e.g. refrigerated smoked fish)
- Unpasteurized dairy products and soft cheeses (e.g. queso fresco, feta, Brie)
Proper food safety training, maintaining high standards of hygiene and cooking food properly are the best defenses against Listeria and the spread of food-borne illness. Find out more about food safety training with CIFS.