Frito Lay Canada Recalls Sunchips and Munchies Over Salmonella Risk

Frito Lay Canada Recalls Sunchips and Munchies Over Salmonella Risk
Frito Lay Canada has issued a recall for Munchies Original Snack Mix and Sunchips Harvest Cheddar Flavoured Multigrain Snacks. Handout photo
Jennifer Cowan
Updated:
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Frito Lay Canada has issued a recall for two of its most popular bagged snacks due to possible Salmonella contamination.

The recall for SunChips Multigrains Harvest Cheddar Snacks and Original Munchies Snack Mix was issued May 14 and impacts all bag sizes, including variety packs. No other flavours of Sunchips are affected.

Frito Lay said it is issuing the recall “out of an abundance of caution” after hearing from a seasoning supplier that an ingredient supplied to it by a third party was potentially contaminated with salmonella.

“Although no salmonella was found in the seasoning supplied to Frito Lay Canada, the company has decided to recall these products out of an abundance of caution,” reads a company press release.

Frito Lay is recommending customers dispose of all impacted products. To determine if you have a recalled bag, check the UPC code and see if it matches with the codes listed in the recall.

The company said there has been no report of illness thus far, but it is working closely with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to make sure all recalled products are removed from store shelves.

Salmonellosis, one of the most common forms of food poisoning, has a wide range of symptoms, according to Health Canada.

While salmonella exposure does not cause symptoms in everyone, those affected will generally experience side effects within 6 to 72 hours, the agency’s website says. The most common symptoms are chills, diarrhea, fever, nausea, stomach cramps, sudden headache, and vomiting. Most symptoms end within four to seven days and do not require medical treatment unless they are severe. The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness.

The most common complication from salmonellosis is dehydration, which can occur if vomiting and diarrhea is severe. Health Canada recommends rest and drinking plenty of fluids.

In severe cases, patients may need to be treated with prescription drugs or be given fluids intravenously.

Those who are infected with the bacteria can spread the illness to others anywhere from several days to several weeks after becoming infected, even when no symptoms are present. It is spread via person-to-person contact and by touching contaminated surfaces.