CFIA/Health Hazard Alert: Certain Fresh Obsessions Brand Ready to Serve Pre-Washed Sliced White Mushrooms May Contain Listeria Monocytogenes

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Sept. 3, 2008) - Audio clips available at www.inspection.gc.ca/english/corpaffr/relations/indexaude.shtml.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Ravine Mushroom Farms Inc. are warning the public not to consume the Fresh Obsessions brand Ready To Serve Pre-washed Sliced White Mushrooms described below because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The affected product, Fresh Obsessions brand Ready To Serve Pre-Washed Sliced White Mushrooms, is sold in an 8 oz / 227 g package bearing UPC 0 69200 00902 2 and lot code R12398. This lot code can be found ink jetted on the cellophane wrapper on the side of the package.

This product has been distributed in Ontario.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.

Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with this bacteria may cause listeriosis, a foodborne illness. Listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk. Infected pregnant women may experience only a mild, flu-like illness, however, infections during pregnancy can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or even stillbirth.

The manufacturer, Ravine Mushroom Farms Inc., Woodbridge, ON 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 Listeria monocytogenes, visit the Food Facts web page www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/concen/causee.shtml.

For information on receiving recalls by e-mail, or for other food safety facts, visit our web site at www.inspection.gc.ca.