HEALTH HAZARD ALERT

WHITE SESAME SEEDS SOLD IN BULK AT CERTAIN RETAIL OUTLETS MAY CONTAIN SALMONELLA BACTERIA

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OTTAWA, August 14, 2007-The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume the sesame seeds described below because this product may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The affected sesame seeds, labelled as White Sesame Seeds, were sold in bulk bins at the following retail stores in Ontario.

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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