HEALTH HAZARD ALERT

HEALTH HAZARD ALERT - CERTAIN SESAME SEEDS SOLD IN BULK AT VARIOUS RETAIL OUTLETS MAY CONTAIN SALMONELLA BACTERIA

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OTTAWA, July 13, 2007 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Johnvince Foods are warning the public not to consume certain sesame seeds described below because this product may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The affected product, Quik Kook White Sesame Seeds, was sold to various retails stores in Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia as 8 kg bags bearing UPC 0 58877 16585 8 and lot codes 71131, 71141 and 71481. This product is known to have been sold in bulk from the following locations on or after June 1, 2007:

1. Johnvince Foods, 555 Steeprock Drive, Downsview in Ontario
2. Various banners under Loblaws Inc. in Ontario, except No Frills and Cash & Carry
3. Various banners under Great Atlantic & Pacific Company of Canada Ltd. in Ontario, except Loeb
4. Sobeys Canada Inc in Ontario, only Sobey's banner
5. Foodland, 6 Arthur Street, Elmira, Ontario
6. Various independent stores in Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec

Consumers who have purchased sesame seeds on or after June 1, 2007, and are unsure that it is affected product, should contact the place of purchase to determine if their product is affected.

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 CFIA is working with importers, distributors and retail stores to have the affected product removed 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 more information on Salmonella, visit the Food Facts web page at 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.

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