HEALTH HAZARD ALERT

DUNN’S FAMOUS BRAND SMOKED MEAT POUCHES MAY CONTAIN A TOXIN PRODUCED BY STAPHYLOCOCCUS BACTERIA

OTTAWA, November 4, 2008 – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Les Salaisons Desco Inc. are warning the public not to consume the Dunn’s Famous brand Smoked Meat pouches described below because this product may be contaminated with Staphylococcus toxin.

The affected product, Dunn’s Famous brand Smoked Meat pouches, is sold in 1 kg boxes bearing UPC 4 00007 55699 7 and the Best Before Date 2008 NO 13.  A Canada logo with the number 501 also appears on the outside of the box.  The 1 kg boxes contain 6 plain wrapped 175 g smoked meat pouches.

This product has been distributed only through the following Costco store locations in British Columbia: Surrey, Kelowna, Port Coquitlam, Langford, Langley and Downtown Vancouver.

There has been one reported illness associated with the consumption of this product.

Food contaminated with Staphylococcus toxin may not look or smell spoiled. The toxin produced by Staphylococcus bacteria is not easily destroyed at normal cooking temperatures. Common symptoms of Staphylococcus poisoning are nausea, vomiting,  abdominal cramping and fever. In severe cases, headache, muscle cramping and changes in blood pressure and pulse rate may occur.

The manufacturer,  Les Salaisons Desco Inc., Boisbriand, Quebec, 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 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 receiving recalls by e-mail, or for other food safety facts, visit our web site at www.inspection.gc.ca.

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