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Daniele Recall Spreads To Canada

By Dan Flynn and Suzanna Schreck

With some precision, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) warned the public north of the border not to eat certain Daniele Inc. brand salami products because they may be contaminated with Salmonella.

In the United States, Daniele has recalled 1.24 million pounds of salami products because they might be involved in an outbreak of Salmonella Montevideo that has sickened 187 in 39 states.

From Ottawa, the CFIA's warning includes both a short list of Daniele brands known to be for sale in Canada and a list of retailers involved.

All codes of the following Daniele brand products are affected by the recall in Canada:

400 gram, Gourmet Italian Selection, with UPC of 7 36436 53013 1, and sold in Super C stores in Quebec.

500 gram, Italian Brand Gourmet Pack, with UPC of 7 36436 70737 3, and sold at Costco stores in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.

600 gram, Gourmet Italian Deli with UPC of 7 36436 72005 1, and also sold in the same Costco stores.

Items from the much longer Daniele recall for the U.S. might have been imported into Canada, according to CFIA.   It advises Canadians to check the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service's (FSIS's) online recall site.

One thing that is not found on that site is a list of U.S. retailers selling Daniele-made salami.   Some American retailers have announced they are participating in the recall, but as yet FSIS has not produced an official list.

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

Health experts stress that food contaminated with Salmonella may not look or smell spoiled.

Consumption of food contaminated with the Salmonella bacteria may cause salmonellosis, a foodborne illness.

In young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems, salmonellosis may cause serious and sometimes deadly infections. In otherwise healthy people, salmonellosis may cause short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Long-term complications may include severe arthritis.

The importers are 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 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).

Full post as published by Food Safety News on January 27, 2010 (boomark / email).