The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) just reissued a Public Health Alert regarding Ready-to-Eat Prosciutto products imported from Canada. The reissued Public Health Alert was also issued to provide guidance to consumers, especially if they are in possession of the involved products. The Ready-to-Eat Deli Meat products may be […]
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) just reissued a Public Health Alert regarding Ready-to-Eat Prosciutto products imported from Canada. The reissued Public Health Alert was also issued to provide guidance to consumers, especially if they are in possession of the involved products. The Ready-to-Eat Deli Meat products may be contaminated with <"https://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/listeria">Listeria monocytogenes.
FSIS was notified by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) that various Ready-to-Eat Deli Meat products subject to recall in Canada may have been exported to the United States. Recently, a problem was discovered through FSIS microbiological testing of imported product from Canadian Establishment 665, which resulted in a positive sample for Listeria monocytogenes and two FSIS recalls dated May 4th and 5th. In both cases, this was deemed a health hazard situation in which there was a reasonable probability that the use of the product would cause serious, adverse health consequences or death. Information on both recalls can be accessed at:
• http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_028_2010_Release/index.asp
• http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_029_2010_Release/index.asp
To date, FSIS and Canada have received no reports of illnesses as result of consumption of products subject to this alert. The FSIS is urging anyone with signs or symptoms of foodborne illness to contact a physician. FSIS will continue to provide information as it becomes available, including information about any related recall activity.
Products exported to the United States include, but are not limited to, the following:
• “Casa Italia Gastronomia Prosciutto”
• “Casa Italia Gastronomia Prosciutto Boneless”
• “Casa Italia Gastronomia Prosciutto Mattonella”
• “Casa Italia Prosciutto Boneless”
• “Casa Italia Prosciutto Boneless Sliced”
• “Casa Italia Prosciutto Ham Sliced”
• “Emma Dry Prosciutto”
Implicated products were produced by Zadi Foods Ltd., CFIA Establishment 665, located in Brampton, Ontario, and may have been distributed to retail locations nationwide. All lots and production dates for the above-listed products are subject to this public health alert.
FSIS is working with the CFIA to verify that the recalling firm notifies its customers of the recall and is conducting effectiveness checks to verify that the product is no longer available to consumers. The products would have been sold to consumers at deli counters, and the original brand may not have been transferred at the deli counters to consumer packages. Consumers who may have purchased any of these products and do not know original brand are advised to check with their retailer or supplier to determine if they have the affected products. If consumers have any of the implicated products, they should discard them or return them to the point of purchase.
Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause Listeriosis, a potentially fatal disease. While healthy people rarely contract Listeriosis, the infection can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, and nausea; can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women; and can result in serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weakened immune systems, such as infants, the elderly, persons with HIV infection, or those undergoing chemotherapy.
The FSIS suggests that consumers with questions about the recall contact the CFIA at (800) 442-2342 / TTY (800) 465-7735. Consumers with food safety questions can “Ask Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.