HEALTH HAZARD ALERT

CERTAIN SANDWICHES SOLD AT SAFEWAY STORES MAY CONTAIN LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES

OTTAWA, August 29, 2008 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Canada Safeway 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 Safeway stores in British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Saskatchewan:

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.

Canada Safeway Limited, Calgary, Alberta, 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:

Canada Safeway Limited at 1-800-SAFEWAY (1-800-723-3929); 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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