HEALTH HAZARD ALERT

CERTAIN CHOICE FAMILY MEATS BRAND BEEF JERKY PRODUCTS MAY CONTAIN DANGEROUS BACTERIA

Product photos

OTTAWA, July 2, 2010 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Choice Family Meats are warning the public not to consume certain Choice Family Meats brand beef jerky products described below because they may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum. Toxins produced by these bacteria may cause botulism, a life-threatening illness.

The following Choice Family Meats brand products are affected by this alert:

Name	Size	UPC	Packed On Date
Store Made Beef Jerky Chili Chipotle Flavor	Various	200222 818265	Up to and including 2010JL02
Store Made Beef Jerky Sweet Orange Flavor	Various	200222 804275	Up to and including 2010JL02
Store Made Beef Jerky Jalepeno Flavor	Various	200222 605544	Up to and including 2010JL02

These products were sold at Choice Family Meats, located at 320 Great Plains Road, Emerald Park, Saskatchewan only.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

Food contaminated with Clostridium botulinum toxin may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with the toxin may cause nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, headache, double vision, dry throat, respiratory failure and paralysis. In severe cases of illness, people may die.

The manufacturer, Choice Family Meats, Emerald Park, Saskatchewan, 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 one of the following numbers:

Allen Kilback, Choice Family Meats, at 306-541-7838; or

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 Clostridium botulinum, visit the Food Facts web page at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/concen/cause/botulisme.shtml

For information on all food recalls, visit the CFIA’s Food Recall Report at: http://active.inspection.gc.ca/eng/corp/recarapp_dbe.asp.

To find out more about receiving recalls by e-mail, and other food safety facts, visit our web site at: www.inspection.gc.ca.

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Media enquiries:

Choice Family Meats
Allen Kilback
306-541-7838

CFIA Media Relations
613-773-6600

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Store Made Beef Jerky Chili Chipotle Flavor