National supermarket chain Sobeys has initiated a recall for a series of cheese-related products due to potential listeria monocytogenes contamination.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) published an advisory this week for the Class 1 recall affecting 15 products available in every province except Quebec.
Class 1 represents the most severe category among all recall classifications, indicating a considerable risk that the ingestion of the food could result in serious health problems or even death.
The Sobeys-owned stores that sell the pasta salads, cauliflower cakes, and hors d’oeuvres affected by the recall include Co-op, Foodland, and Sobeys in Atlantic Canada; Foodland, IGA, Safeway, and Sobeys in Ontario; and IGA, Safeway, Sobeys, and Thrifty Foods in Western Canada.
A full list of the impacted products can be found on the CFIA website.
The government agency is advising consumers not to eat, serve, or sell any of the affected cheese products. There have been no reported illnesses associated with consumption of the product thus far.
The agency’s advisory said the recall was “triggered by the company,” but noted that the CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation into the recall, which could lead to the recall of other products.
“Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the location where they were purchased,” CFIA added. “If you think you became sick from consuming a recalled product, contact your healthcare provider.”
Listeria Risks
Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne bacterial illness that leads to listeriosis, a form of bacterial infection.
Food contaminated with the bacteria may not look or smell spoiled but can still cause illness, the agency said. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, fever, muscle aches, headache, diarrhea, and neck stiffness but can also cause more serious complications such as meningitis and sepsis, also known as blood poisoning.
Healthy people are not immune to listeria infections, but the disease is especially serious for individuals 60 and older, those with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, and newborns.
The onset of severe listeriosis symptoms can manifest up to 70 days after being exposed to the bacteria.
Despite the rarity of listeriosis in Canada, certain foods have a higher tendency to carry the listeria bacteria than others, according to Health Canada. Some higher-risk foods include refrigerated smoked fish, raw or unpasteurized milk, soft and unpasteurized cheeses, and ready-to-eat meats, such as pâté, deli meats, or hot dog wieners. It can also be found in fruits and vegetables.
