Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA): Health Hazard Alert - Reduced Cold Cut Ends Sold by Metro Ontario Inc. may Contain Listeria Monocytogenes

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Metro Ontario Inc., Toronto are warning the public not to serve or consume Reduced Cold Cut Ends described below because this product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

This recall is being initiated as the Reduced Cold Cut Ends may contain products recalled by Maple Leaf Consumer Foods, Burlington, ON.

The affected product, Reduced Cold Cut Ends were packaged in clear, vacuum packaged, plastic bags of various weights. All Best Before Dates up to and including August 27, 2008 are affected by this alert.

This product was sold at some A&P, Dominion, Loeb and The Barn stores in Ontario.

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.

Metro Ontario Inc., Toronto, ON, is voluntarily recalling the affected product 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:

Metro Ontario Customer Care at 1-877-763-7374

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 Listeria monocytogenes, visit the Food Facts web page 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.

www.cfia-acia.agr.ca