This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact The Epoch Times Reprints.
A recall has been issued for Peeters Mushroom Farm sliced mushrooms distributed in Ontario and Quebec due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
The weekend advisory was triggered by test results from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which has also launched a safety investigation that could result in the recall of additional products.
Peeters Mushroom Farm sliced mushrooms are the subject of a recall. (Health Canada photo).
The four different varieties of mushrooms that have been recalled include thick, thin, and Cremini sliced mushrooms. The lot numbers for the impacted products can be found here.
There have been no reported illnesses associated with the recalled mushrooms thus far, and the food inspection agency is warning against the consumption or sale of the products.
“Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick,” the advisory says. “Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the location where they were purchased.”
Consumers are also being encouraged to contact a health-care provider if they fall ill after eating any of the recalled products.
What is Listeria?
Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterial illness transmitted through food that results in listeriosis, a type of bacterial infection.
The illness can cause nausea, vomiting, fever, muscle aches, headache, diarrhea, and neck stiffness but can also lead to more serious complications such as meningitis and sepsis, also known as blood poisoning.
While healthy people can fall ill from a listeria infection, the disease poses a greater threat to individuals aged 60 and older, people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, and newborns, Health Canada says.
“Although infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, the infection can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn or even stillbirth,” the advisory says. “In severe cases of illness, people may die.”
Symptoms of severe listeriosis can appear up to 70 days after exposure to the bacteria.
Even though listeriosis is uncommon in Canada, certain foods are more prone to contain the Listeria bacteria than others, the agency says. 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.
Fruits and vegetables can become tainted if crops are irrigated with contaminated water. The presence of Listeria in soil and fertilizers made from manure can lead to further contamination.
Invasive listeriosis has been a nationally notifiable disease in all provinces and territories since 2007, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. Approximately 134 cases of invasive listeriosis have been reported annually in the country in recent years.
