Walnut products recalled for E. coli risk

[David Baxter PhD]

Walnut products recalled for E. coli risk
CBC News
Sep 1, 2011

Canadians should not eat certain prepackaged raw, shelled walnuts because they may be contaminated with E. coli, federal officials say.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Johnvince Foods announced a recall on Thursday of some President's Choice and Reddi Snack walnuts because the products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, which tainted the water system in Walkerton, Ont. in 2000. The raw, shelled walnuts products were imported from the U.S. and packaged in Canada, the CFIA said. The products were distributed across Canada.

Affected products:

Brand & Product	Size	UPC	Code
President?s Choice Raw California Walnut Halves Unsalted	250 g	0 60383 87185 7	Best Before 2012 OC 07
Reddi Snack Hand Selected California Walnuts	350 g	0 64777 28695 1	16581

Source: CFIA

"There have been no confirmed illnesses associated with the consumption of these products," the agency said in a release.
Johnvince Foods of Downsview, Ont. is voluntarily recalling the affected products from the marketplace and CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

In another walnut recall in January, one person in Quebec died and 13 other Canadians fell sick with an E. coli bacterial infection with the same genetic fingerprint. Of the 14 reported cases of E. coli infection, nine people consumed walnuts and seven ate walnuts from the same distributor, the Public Health Agency of Canada said at the time.

Food contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 may not look or smell spoiled.

Infection from E. coli can cause serious and potentially life-threatening illnesses. Symptoms include severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea.

 

[David Baxter PhD]

Walnut recall expanded for E. coli risk

Walnut recall expanded for E. coli risk
CBC News
Sep 7, 2011

The Canadian Food Inspection agency has expanded its recall of certain bulk and pre-packaged walnut products distributed by a Toronto company because of an E. coli risk.

The health hazard alert Wednesday from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, or CFIA, covers a range of walnuts from Johnvince Foods, based in Toronto. The company is voluntarily recalling the raw shelled walnuts sold in bulk as well as pre-packaged raw shelled walnuts after a warning from the inspection agency that some products may be contaminated with E. coli 0157:H7.

The agency issued a narrower recall on Sept. 1.

E. coli can cause deadly illnesses. Consumption of foods tainted with the bacteria can lead to abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. Severe cases can be fatal. Food contaminated with E. coli 0157:H7 may not look or smell spoiled.

There have been no reports of illnesses linked with the consumption of the walnuts.

The products covered by the recall, some of which may have been distributed nationally, include:

• Bulk walnuts distributed by Johnvince Foods and sold from bulk bins.
• President?s Choice Raw California Walnut Halves, unsalted (250 g)
• President?s Choice Deluxe Trail Mix (220 g)
• No Frills Natural Walnut Halves and Pieces (175 g)
• Longo?s California Walnuts (240 g)
• Compliments California Walnut Halves & Pieces (225 g)
• Compliments Walnut Halves (100 g)
• FreshCo California Natural Walnut Halves & Pieces (200 g)
• Marketplace Co-op ?Halt? the Salt Walnut Halves & Pieces, 250g
• Johnvince Foods Caramel Toffee Walnuts (11.34 kg)
• Stock & Barrel Caramel Toffee Walnuts (300 g)
• Joe?s Tasty Treats California Select Walnuts Mostly Halves (350 g)
• Selection Walnut Halves (250 g)
• Planters Vitality Mix 100 Calories per Bag, (240 g)
• Marketplace Co-op Vitality Mix (375 g)

For more information on food recalls, consumers are encouraged to visit the CFIA's Food Recall Report.

Consumers may also call

• Johnvince Foods at (416) 636-6146, ext. 7226, or 1-800-268-7950, ext. 7226;
• CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 / TTY 1-800-465-7735.

 

[Yuray]

 

[David Baxter PhD]

Walnut recall expands for 2nd time

Walnut recall expands for 2nd time
CBC News
Sep 8, 2011

The list of bulk walnuts under recall for possible contamination with E. coli has been expanded.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Toronto-based Johnvince Foods said Thursday that the list has been changed to alter the code of the bulk walnuts and to include more potentially contaminated prepackaged nuts and other snacks.

Affected products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.
The affected brands include:

• Bulk walnuts distributed by Johnvince Foods and sold from bulk bins.
• Presidents Choice.
• Longos.
• Compliments.
• Stock & Barrel.
• Joe's.
• Picard Peanuts.
• Aliments Naturels Bonne Sant?.
• M & L Gourmet Selection.
• FreshCo.
• Reddisnack.
• Federated Vitality.

Eating foods tainted with E. coli can lead to abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. Severe cases of E. coli-related illnesses can be fatal.

No illnesses related to E. coli-tainted walnuts have been reported.

The nuts were imported from the United States and may have been distributed nationally, CFIA said.

The agency announced the initial Johnvince walnut recall on Sept. 1.

In April, walnuts were removed from bulk bins and store shelves after more than a dozen Canadians got sick.

 

[David Baxter PhD]

CFIA Expanded Recall List

[h=1]EXPANDED HEALTH HAZARD ALERT: CERTAIN BULK WALNUTS, PREPACKAGED NUTS AND SNACK PRODUCTS MAY CONTAIN E.coli O157:H7 BACTERIA[/h]OTTAWA, September 7, 2011 - The public warning issued on September 6, 2011 has been expanded to amend the code of the bulk walnuts and to include additional potentially contaminated prepackaged nuts and other snack products.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Johnvince Foods are warning the public not to consume certain bulk walnuts, prepackaged nuts and other snack products described below because these products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

The following nuts and snack products are affected by this alert.

Brand & Product	Size	UPC	Code
Bulk walnuts distribituted by Johnvince Foods & sold at retail from bulk bins**	11.34 kg	N/A	Sold from April 27 to September 6, 2011, inclusive
Picard Peanuts Ltd. California Walnuts Halves / Noix Grenoble	175 g	0 62645 04260 9	0208 to 2908 (Aug. 02 to 29, 2011)
Aliments Naturels Bonne Sant? Noix de Grenoble crues Raw Walnuts	200 g	N/A	Sold from July 7 to September 2, 2011, inclusive
M & L Gourmet Selection Walnut Halves	150 g	6 92559 98916	TC203
Stock & Barrel Caramel Toffee Walnuts	300 g	0 64777 37906 6	Best Before 2012/JN/03 16541
Federated Vitality Mix	375 g	0 64777 44174	Best Before 2012 JN 29 / 2012 JL 05
Joe's Tasty Travels California Select Walnuts Mostly Halves	350 g	6 64989 60689 1	16511 and 17311
Joe's Tasty Travels Nothin' but (raw) Almonds	550 g	6 64989 60694 5	16582
Compliments Salted Toasted Corn	325 g	0 68820 12332 3	Best Before 2011/DE/07 16582 2011/DE/08 16591
Compliments Roasted & Salted Cashews	350 g	0 68820 12378 1	Best Before 2012/JA/27 17081
Compliments California Natural Walnut Pieces	250 g	0 68820 12327 9	Best Before 2012/FE/16 17282
FreshCo Natural Almonds	375 g	7 70974 80171 1	Best Before 2012/AU/17 17291
Longos Organics Sultana Raisins	200 g	7 72468 09567 5	Best Before 2012/AU/16 17282
Presidents Choice Raisin Cranberry Trail Mix	250 g	0 60383 87199 4	Best Before 2012/AU/22 17341 & 2012/AU/19 17312
Reddisnack Hand Selected California Walnuts	350 g	0 64777 28694 1	17312 and 16582
Selection Vitality Mix	325 g	0 59749 90982 2	16662
Stock & Barrel Raw Almonds	400 g	0 64777 38425 1	Best Before 2012/NO/25 17061 & 2012/NO/27 17081
Stock & Barrel BBQ Peanuts	400 g	0 64777 37944 8	Best Before 2012/JA/27 17081 & 2012/JA/27 17082
Stock & Barrel Salted Roasted Almonds	400 g	0 64777 37950 9	Best Before 2012/ JL/ 25 17061

**The bulk walnuts listed above were imported and distributed in Canada by Johnvince Foods in 25 lb cardboard cases bearing Lot code W1866 and the name Andersen and Sons Shelling, Vina, California, USA. Consumers who may have purchased unlabelled walnuts from bulk and are unsure if they have the affected product are advised to contact the place of purchase to determine if it is affected by this recall.

These products may have been distributed nationally.

There have been no reported 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, Toronto, ON is voluntarily recalling the affected products from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recalls.

For more information, consumers and industry can call one of the following numbers:

• Johnvince Foods at (416) 636-6146 ext. 7226 or 1-800-268-7950 ext. 7226;
• 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 at Canadian Food Inspection Agency - Pathogen: E. Coli 0157:H7 - bacteria

For information on all food recalls, visit the CFIA?s Food Recall Report at Canadian Food Inspection Agency - Index of Food Recalls for Class I, II and III

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 Healthy Canadians Website - Government of Canada