Nature's Reward brand cilantro may be contaminated with Salmonella

Canadian Food Inspection Agency
News Release

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OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) are warning the public not to consume the Nature's Reward brand fresh cilantro described below because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The affected product, Nature's Reward brand fresh cilantro, product of USA, was sold in bunches held together with a twist tie bearing PLU 4889 and UPC 0 33383 80104 9. There is no brand name, date or lot code on the ties.

This cilantro was sold at Walmart stores in Ontario from January 17th to January 27th.

Consumers who may have purchased this fresh cilantro and are not sure of the product's PLU and UPC codes are advised to contact their place of purchase to see if they have the affected product.

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

Food contaminated with Salmonella may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with these bacteria may cause salmonellosis, a food borne illness. In young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems, salmonellosis may cause serious and sometimes deadly infections. In otherwise healthy people, salmonellosis may cause short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. Long-term complications may include severe arthritis.

The importer, Fresh Taste Produce Ltd., Toronto, ON, is voluntarily recalling the affected products from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

For more information on this recall, please visit the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) website at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm241602.htm.

For more information, consumers and industry can call 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 Salmonella, visit the Food Facts web page at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/concen/cause/salmonellae.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.

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