HEALTH HAZARD ALERT

CERTAIN SAFEWAY BRAND AND TAKEAWAYCAFÉ BRAND SANDWICHES MAY CONTAIN  LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES

OTTAWA, August 25, 2008 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Lucerne Foods are warning the public not to serve or consume the Safeway brand and TakeAwayCafé brand sandwiches described below because these products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The following Safeway brand and TakeAwayCafé brand sandwiches are affected by this alert.

The Safeway brand sandwiches have been distributed in Alberta and Saskatchewan through Safeway stores. The TakeAwayCafé brand sandwiches have been distributed in Alberta through Mac's Convenience stores.

This recall is being initiated as some of these sandwiches contain various ready-to-eat deli meat products recalled by Maple Leaf Consumer Foods, Burlington, ON. There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these sandwiches.

Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with this 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, Lucerne Foods, Calgary, AB, 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 Listeria monocytogenes, 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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