HEALTH HAZARD ALERT

CERTAIN FRESH EXPRESS BRAND ROMAINE-BASED SALADS MAY CONTAIN E. coli O157:H7 BACTERIA

Related Alerts: 2010-07-14 | 2010-07-14

Product photos

OTTAWA, July 14, 2010 – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume the Fresh Express brand Romaine-based Salads described below because these products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

This CFIA alert has been initiated in response to a recall by the manufacturer, Fresh Express Incorporated, of Salinas, California in the United States.

The following Fresh Express brand Romaine-based Salads which have Best Before dates of July 9 through July 12 and an “S” in the product code are affected by this alert:

Product	Size	UPC	Production Code	Best Before
Double Carrots	340 g	0 71279 10802 5	S175	July 10, 2010
Green & Crisp	340 g	0 71279 10804 9	S175	July 10, 2010
Premium Romaine	255 g	0 71279 10808 7	S175	July 10, 2010
Lettuce Trio	255 g	0 71279 10809 4	S175	July 10, 2010
Italian	283 g	0 71279 21100 8	S175, S176	July 10-11, 2010
Fancy Greens	198 g	0 71279 23201 0	S174, S175	July 9-10, 2010
American	340 g	0 71279 24100 5	S175, S176	July 11-12, 2010
5-Lettuce Mix	170 g	0 71279 25101 1	S175	July 9, 2010
Hearts of Romaine	283 g	0 71279 26102 7	S175, S176	July 10-11, 2010
Triple Hearts	226 g	0 71279 26111 9	S175, S176	July 10-11, 2010
Leafy Green Romaine	255 g	0 71279 26112 6	S175	July 10, 2010
Veggie Lover’s	340 g	0 71279 28100 1	S175	July 10, 2010
Caesar Complete Salad	212 g + 74 mL	0 71279 30100 6	S175, S176	July 10-11, 2010
CaesarLite Complete Salad	212 g + 74 mL	0 71279 30101 3	S175, S176	July 10-11, 2010
Caesar Supreme Complete Salad	226 g + 81 mL	0 71279 30104 4	S175, S176	July 10-11, 2010
B.L.T. Caesar Complete Salad	226 g + 74 mL	0 71279 30107 5	S175	July 10, 2010
Asian Supreme Complete Salad	323 g + 74 mL	0 71279 30201 0	S175, S176	July 10-11, 2010
Salsa! Ensalada Supreme Complete Salad	326 g + 74 mL	0 71279 30601 8	S175	July 10, 2010

The Use-By Date is found in the upper right hand corner of the package with the product code immediately underneath.

These products have been distributed in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec and may have been distributed nationally.

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

Food contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with these bacteria my cause serious and potentially life-threatening illnesses. Symptoms include severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. Some people may have seizures or strokes and some may need blood transfusions and kidney dialysis. Others may live with permanent kidney damage. In severe cases of illness, people may die.

The CFIA will be working with Canadian importers to remove all of 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:

Fresh Express Consumer Response Center at (800) 242-5472, 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 E. coli O157:H7, visit the Food Facts web page at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/concen/cause/ecolie.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: www.foodsafety.gc.ca. Food and consumer product recalls are also available at http://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca.

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Media enquiries:

CFIA Media Relations
613-773-6600

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