HEALTH HAZARD ALERT

CERTAIN SANDWICHES SOLD BY LOBLAW COMPANIES MAY CONTAIN LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES

OTTAWA, August 28, 2008 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Loblaw Companies Limited are warning the public not to serve or consume various store-made sandwiches because the products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

This recall is being initiated as these sandwiches contain a few 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.

The following products were made and sold at Loblaws, Loblaw Superstore, and Real Canadian Superstore in Ontario:

The following products were made and sold at Loblaws and Provigo in Quebec:

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.

Loblaw Inc., Brampton, Ontario, 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:

Inge van den Berg, Vice President, Public Affairs & Investor Relations, Loblaw Companies Limited at 905-861-2221;

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.

- 30 -

Media enquiries: