Barbecuers are being warned to check their hot dogs for possible contamination from the bacteria, Listeria monocytogenes.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency issued the warning Aug. 8 advising consumers not to eat the various brands of wieners.
These products have best-before dates up to and including Aug. 10 and contain the code EST69.
Listeria can cause a host of flu-like symptoms, can lead to a disease called listeriosis and is particularly dangerous to those with weakened immune systems. Symptoms usually appear within two to 30 days and up to 90 days after consuming contaminated food.
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Mitchell’s Gourmet Foods, which distributes the wieners nationally from its Saskatoon plant, issued a voluntary recall of these products Aug. 1, said the company’s sales manager, Alex McInnes.
He said the 450-gram packaged weiner production was relocated to a new processing facility effective June 9. The recalled wieners were processed before this date.
There have been no reports of anyone getting sick from eating these products, said CFIA and Mitchells. The bacteria is eliminated by thorough cooking, McInnes said.
Ken Marcynuk of CFIA said the warning was issued after listeria was found in a number of samples. The agency is investigating the cause and source of the contamination.
Listeria is often found in the environment, particularly in soil, vegetation, animal feed, and in human and animal feces. Listeria monocytogenes can be spread by contact with an infected product or surface, such as hands or countertops, during food preparation.
For information, go to www.producer.com and follow the links.
