OTTAWA – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Veg-Pak Produce Ltd. are warning consumers, distributors and retailers not to consume, distribute or sell the jalapeno peppers described below because they may be contaminated with Salmonella.
The affected jalapeno peppers, produce of USA, were known to have been sold in bulk from the following stores in Ontario:
•Food Basics
•Ho Long Supermarket
•Kitchen Table Grocery Stores
•Longo’s
•Metro
•Michael Angelo’s
•Oak Ridges Food Market
•Oceans Fresh Food Market
•Oriental Food Market
•P.A.T. Mart
•Starwind Supermarket
•Trinity Supermarket
They may have also been sold from other retail stores in Ontario.
The affected peppers were sold at retail between March 8, 2012 and March 28, 2012, inclusively.
Consumers who have purchased bulk, unlabelled jalapeno peppers between these dates are advised to check with their place of purchase to determine if they have the affected product.
The CFIA is also warning other retailers and distributors in Ontario not to sell, use or distribute the following wholesale packages of peppers:
•1 bushel boxes bearing the South Florida Produce logo; or
•1/2 bushel boxes bearing JALAPENO PEPPERS, PRODUCT OF USA and Veg-Pak’s name and address on a sticker.
The wholesale packages were sold by Veg-Pak Produce at the Ontario Food Terminal, from March 8 to March 15, 2012, inclusively.
There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.
Food contaminated with Salmonella may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with this bacteria may cause salmonellosis, a foodborne illness. In young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems, salmonellosis may cause serious and sometimes deadly infections. In otherwise healthy people, salmonellosis may cause short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Long-term complications may include severe arthritis.
The importer, Veg-Pak Produce Ltd., 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:
Veg-Pak Produce Ltd. (416) 255-7400 ext: 21;
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 Salmonella, visit the Food Facts web page at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/concen/cause/salmonellae.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.
Source: Canadian Food Inspection Agency
