Outbreak of Listeria in Some Packaged Salads Awesome Canada Staff January 23, 2016 Life, Recalls 1776 Outbreak of Listeria; consumers advised not to consume packaged salad products from the Dole processing plant in Springfield, Ohio The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has put out a notice advising Canadians not to consume packaged salads products from the Dole processing plant in Springfield, Ohio due to a food recall warning. Why you should take note? The Public Health Agency of Canada is collaborating with federal and provincial public health partners, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the United States Food and Drug Administration to investigate an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to Dole packaged salad products produced from a US processing facility in Springfield, Ohio. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has issued a food recall warning advising Canadians of the recall to Dole packaged salad products under various product names that have been distributed in eastern provinces. The Public Health Agency of Canada advises Canadians not to consume packaged salad products that have been processed at the Dole facility inSpringfield, Ohio. This includes Dole brand items as well as items sold under other brand names. For a full list of products, please refer to the CFIA recall notice. These products can be identified by letter “A” at the beginning of the manufacturing code found on the package. The overall risk to Canadians is low. Listeria is a type of bacteria that can be found in food, soil, plants, sewage and other places in nature. Eating food withListeria on it can cause a serious disease, called listeriosis, in high-risk groups. Ongoing Investigation Currently, there are seven (7) cases of Listeria monocytogenes in five provinces related to this outbreak: Ontario (3), Quebec (1), New Brunswick (1),Prince Edward Island (1), and Newfoundland and Labrador (1). Individuals became sick between September 2015 and early January 2016. Some of the individuals who became ill have reported eating packaged salads. It is suspected that these salads were produced at the Dole facility in Ohio. The majority of Canadians cases (71%) are female, with an average age of 81 years. All cases have been hospitalized, and one person has died, however it has not been determined if Listeria contributed to the cause of death. Who is most at risk? Some people face a higher risk of becoming sick with Listeria than others. Those who are at highest risk of serious illness include pregnant women and their unborn/newborn children, adults 65 and over, and people with weakened immune systems. High-risk individuals should not consume the recalled products. What you should do to protect your health? If you have packaged salad products from the Dole processing facility inSpringfield, Ohio in your home, do not eat them. For a list of product brands and names, as well as stores that these products were sold at, please read therecall notice. If you are unsure whether your packaged salad product is part of the food recall warning, do not consume it. Secure the product in a plastic bag, throw it out and wash your hands with warm soapy water. Foods that are contaminated with Listeria may look, smell and taste normal. Unlike most bacteria, Listeria can survive and sometimes grow on foods being stored in the refrigerator. If you suspect you have become ill from eating a Dole packaged salad product, or have symptoms consistent for listeriosis, talk with your healthcare provider. Symptoms Many people are exposed to Listeria, but only a few will actually develop listeriosis. Mild symptoms may include: fever muscle aches nausea diarrhea Severe symptoms may include: headache poor coordination seizures neck stiffness In the milder form of the disease, symptoms can start the following day after consuming a product with Listeria. For the more serious form of the disease, the incubation period is generally much longer; on average about 21 days, but can be up to 70 days after exposure. Listeriosis can be treated with antibiotics, but early diagnosis is key, especially for people at high-risk, such as pregnant women, older adults and people with weakened immune systems. Think this is Awesome? Share it:TweetShare on TumblrPocketPrintEmail Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Google+. Loading Facebook Comments ... Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Facebook. Thoughts? Cancel reply