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CFIA/Health Hazard Alert: Certain Ginger Beef Choice Brand Ready-to-Eat Special Combo May Contain Listeria Monocytogenes

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

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Ginger Beef Choice Ltd., EST 615 are warning the public not to consume the ready-to-eat Special Combo described below because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The affected product, Ginger Beef Choice brand Special Combo is sold in a 1 kg package bearing UPC 6 65075 22980 2 and Best Before date 2011 NOV 28.

This product was distributed to Costco stores in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.

Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with these 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.

The manufacturer, Ginger Beef Choice Ltd., EST 615, Calgary, AB, 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 at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/concen/cause/listeriae.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.