CFIA/Health Hazard Alert: Certain Pepperoni Products from Cowichan Valley Meat Market may Contain Dangerous Bacteria

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - July 28, 2010) - Audio clips available at www.inspection.gc.ca/english/corpaffr/relations/indexaude.shtml.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Cowichan Valley Meat Market are warning the public not to consume the pepperoni products described below because they may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum. Toxins produced by these bacteria may cause botulism, a life-threatening illness.

The following pepperoni products, bearing PKGD. ON (packaged on) dates up to and including JL 28 (July 28), are affected by this alert:

Pub Style Pepperoni

Mild Pepperoni

Hot Pepperoni

X-Hot Pepperoni

Teriyaki Beef Sticks

These products were sold at Cowichan Valley Meat Market, located at 5191 Koksilah Frontage Road, Duncan, BC.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

Food contaminated with Clostridium botulinum toxin may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with the toxin may cause nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, headache, double vision, dry throat, respiratory failure and paralysis. In severe cases of illness, people may die.

The manufacturer, Cowichan Valley Meat Market, Duncan, BC, is voluntarily recalling the affected products 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 Clostridium botulinum, visit the Food Facts web page at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/concen/cause/botulisme.shtml

For information on all food recalls, visit the CFIA's Food Recall Report at: http://active.inspection.gc.ca/eng/corp/recarapp_dbe.asp.

To find out more about receiving recalls by e-mail, and other food safety facts, visit: www.foodsafety.gc.ca. Food and consumer product recalls are also available at http://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca.

To view the labels of the products associated with this press release, please follow this link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/Additionallabels.pdf.