Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA): Health Hazard Alert - Certain Kielbassa Sausage Sold at Country Traditions, Taste of Country, and Country Farm Supply Stores May Contain...

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Country Traditions Frozen Foods are warning the public not to consume kielbassa sausage cuts because the products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

This recall is being initiated as these sausages were products recalled by Maple Leaf Consumer Foods, Burlington, ON.

The following sausages sold at Country Traditions, Taste of Country, and Country Farm Supply stores in Ontario are affected:

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                                                                 Best
                                                         Before dates
                                                            up to and
Brand/Stores                                   Product      including
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Country Traditions   Premium Quality Kielbassa Sausage      Oct 22/08
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Taste of Country              Extra Lean Ham Kielbassa      Oct 22/08
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Country Farm Supply   Kielbassa All Ham Smoked Sausage    Fresh Until
                                                            Oct 22/08
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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.

Country Traditions Frozen Foods, Napanee, Ontario, 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 the 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