Certain Fresh Serrano Peppers May Contain Salmonella Bacteria

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Canadian Food Inspection Agency Dec 22, 2011

The public warning issued on December 20, 2011 has been expanded to include an additional product.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning the public not to consume the Serrano peppers described below because they may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The affected fresh Serrano peppers, imported from the USA, were sold as follows:

Unlabelled from bulk at Safeway stores and various independent grocery stores in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Yukon, between December 5 and 20, 2011, inclusively.

Consumers who have purchased bulk, unlabelled Serrano peppers are advised to check with their place of purchase to determine if they have the affected product.

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

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 diarrhoea.  Long-term complications may include severe arthritis.

The importer, Canada Safeway Ltd, Calgary, Alberta, is voluntarily recalling the affected product 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).

For information on Salmonella, visit the Food Facts web page at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/concen/cause/salmonellae.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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