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Second Brand of Headcheese Recalled in Canada

By Dan Flynn and Suzanna Schreck

A second brand of headcheese is being recalled in Canada for possible Salmonella contamination.  It follows an outbreak of rare Salmonella Chester in British Columbia that was associated with another brand of headcheese.

Headcheese is a deli product made from meat from the head of a pig with a mix of gelatin and spices.

G. Brandt Meat Packers makes the second brand of headcheese to be recalled this month.  Brandt headcheese has not been linked to any illnesses, but is still the subject of a public warning by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

All flavors of Brandt Headcheese products, bearing Establishment number 164 and purchased up to and including July 21, 2010, are affected by this alert.

The affected products have been distributed throughout Canada.

CFIA says these headcheese products would have been sold to consumers at deli counters. However, the original brand and/or Best Before dates may not have been transferred to consumer packages. Persons who may have purchased these products and do not know the original brand and/or code are advised to check with their retailer or supplier to determine if they have the affected product.

The British Columbia Center for Disease Control and Canada's health care agencies are investigating a Salmonella Chester outbreak involving about ten people who became ill earlier this month.

Food contaminated with Salmonella may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with these 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 manufacturer, G. Brandt Meat Packers Ltd., Mississauga, ON, is voluntarily recalling the affected products from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

The first headcheese recall was for Freybe Gourmet Foods Ltd, covering a period from mid-June to July 13.

For more information, consumers and industry can call one of the following numbers:

G. Brandt Meat Packers Ltd. at 905-279-4469 ext 227; 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).

Full post as published by Food Safety News on July 23, 2010 (boomark / email).