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CFIA/Health Hazard Alert: Raw Shelled Walnuts Sold from Certain Retail Stores in Vancouver, British Columbia May Contain E. Coli O157:H7 Bacteria

Audio clips available at www.inspection.gc.ca/english/corpaffr/relations/indexaude.shtml.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume raw shelled walnuts described below because these products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

The affected raw shelled walnuts, product of USA, were sold from certain retail stores during the specified time period. This is related to the recall of raw shelled walnuts imported and distributed in bulk by Amira Enterprises Inc., Montreal, Quebec.

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Retail store                Product                  Size         Dates sold
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Kim's Mart      Raw shelled walnuts          500 to 600 g January 1 to April
519-523 E           Halves & Pieces    packages, with UPC 8, 2011, inclusive
 Broadway                                  beginning with
Vancouver, BC                                    0 200718
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Triple A Market Raw shelled walnuts       1 lb or smaller  March 30 to April
(also known as                     clear plastic bag with                 8,
New Triple A)                        yellow tape closure,    2011, inclusive
1626 Commercial                                    No UPC
 Drive
Vancouver, BC
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These products have been distributed in Vancouver, British Columbia.

This is an ongoing food safety investigation. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is investigating a multi-provincial outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses in collaboration with provincial health authorities as well as federal health partners including the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Health Canada.

Food contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with these bacteria my cause serious and potentially life-threatening illnesses. Symptoms include severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhoea. Some people may have seizures or strokes and some may need blood transfusions and kidney dialysis. Others may live with permanent kidney damage. In severe cases of illness, people may die.

The named retailers are 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 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 E. coli O157:H7, visit the Food Facts web page at:

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/concen/cause/ecolie.shtml

For information on all food recalls, visit the CFIA's Food Recall Report at: http://active.inspection.gc.ca/eng/corp/recarapp_dbe.asp

To find out more about receiving recalls by e-mail, and other food safety facts, visit: www.foodsafety.gc.ca. Food and consumer product recalls are also available at http://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca.