ALLERGY ALERT

PRESENCE OF CASHEWS IN SOME BERNI BRAND PESTO

Related Alerts: 2008-05-27 | 2008-05-22

OTTAWA, May 22, 2008 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning people with allergies to cashews not to consume the Berni brand Pesto products described below. The label of the affected products declares cashews with a French term ‘anacardes' that is not commonly recognized in Canada.

All lots of the following products are affected by this warning:

Berni brand Pesto al Pomodoro, a product of Italy, is sold in a 195 g jar bearing UPC 8 73186 00006 1 and 8 032589 960132,

Berni brand Pesto al Basilico, a product of Italy, is sold in a 195 g jar bearing UPC 8 73186 00000 9 and 8 032589 960217.

These products are known to have been distributed in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and may have been distributed nationally.

There has been one reported illness associated with the consumption of these products.

Consumption of these products may cause a serious or life-threatening reaction in persons with allergies to cashews.

The importer, Aurora Importing and Distributing Ltd., Mississauga, Ontario, is 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 Tree Nuts, one of the nine most common food allergens, visit the Food Allergens web page at www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/labeti/allerg/allerge.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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