Certain Pre-packaged Raw Shelled Walnuts Sold in Canada may contain E. coli bacteria

OTTAWA, September 1, 2011 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Johnvince Foods are warning the public not to consume certain prepackaged raw shelled walnut products described below because these products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

 

The following raw shelled walnut products, imported from USA and packaged in Canada,
are affected by this alert.

 

These products have been distributed nationally.

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

 

Food contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with these bacteria my cause serious and potentially life-threatening illnesses. Symptoms include severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhoea. Some people may have seizures or strokes and some may need blood transfusions and kidney dialysis. Others may live with permanent kidney damage. In severe cases of illness, people may die.

 

Johnvince Foods, Downsview, ON 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 E. coli O157:H7, visit the Food Facts web page. For information on all food recalls, visit the CFIA’s Food Recall Report. 

 

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