More Than 65 Deli Meat Products Recalled Over Potential Salmonella Contamination: Health Canada

Various brands of salami and cacciatore products have been recalled across Canada due to potential salmonella contamination. Health Canada handout photos

More than 65 salami and cacciatore products have been recalled across Canada over possible salmonella contamination, Health Canada says.

The recalled products include various brands of salami and cacciatore that were distributed in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan, a July 18 Health Canada recall alert says.

The affected brands include Bona, Cosmo’s Smoked Meats, Imperial Meats, Longos, Luc’s European Meats Cheese & Eats, Marini Salumi, Naturissimo, P & E Foods, Rea, Speziale Fine Foods, Superior Meats, T.J. Meats, and Vince’s Cured Meats Corp.

“Food contaminated with Salmonella may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick,” Health Canada says.

Health Canada advises the public not to consume, use, sell, serve, or distribute the recalled products. The department says the products should be thrown out or returned to the location where they were purchased.

The affected products were distributed to grocery stores, specialty markets, restaurants, cafés, delis, and butcher shops, and could have been sold in prepared sandwiches or at deli counters.

The recall was spurred by the findings of an ongoing investigation by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency into a foodborne illness outbreak related to salmonella contamination.

Outbreak Investigation

Health Canada had also issued a food recall alert on July 14 for Rea brand Soppressata Salami Sweet over potential salmonella contamination. The product was distributed in Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec.

Rea brand Genoa Salami Sweet, Rea brand Genoa Salami Hot, and Bona brand Mild Genova Salami were all recalled last month, according to a June 10 recall alert. The products were distributed in Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario.

The Public Health Agency of Canada says these cases are linked to a salmonella outbreak that has led to 87 confirmed cases as of July 19, including nine hospitalizations. There have been 68 cases in Alberta, 17 in Ontario, one in B.C., and one in Manitoba, according to the agency’s public health notice.

The notice says people became sick between mid-April and late-June with a peak in cases at the beginning of May. There have been no deaths associated with the outbreak as of yet, the agency says.

Health Canada has noted that other products could be recalled as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency continues its investigation. The inspection agency is also verifying that suppliers and distributors are removing the recalled products from the marketplace.

Salmonella

The foodborne bacteria illness salmonellosis can affect anyone exposed to a food product contaminated with salmonella bacteria, the health agency says.

“People who are infected with Salmonella bacteria can spread Salmonella to other people several days to several weeks after they have become infected, even if they don’t have symptoms,” the Public Health Agency of Canada says.

Symptoms of salmonellosis include chills, fever, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and a sudden headache. Most symptoms end within 4 to 7 days without treatment. However, some cases have required hospital care.

The health agency says those at higher risk for serious illness include older adults aged 60 and over, young children aged 5 and under, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems.