Warning: fresh herbs may be contaminated with Salmonella

Canadian Food Inspection Agency
News Release

*********************

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Boncheff Greenhouses are warning the public not to consume certain Boncheff brand fresh herbs described below because these products may be contaminated with Salmonella.
The following Boncheff brand fresh herbs are affected by this alert.

Fresh Cilantro 1002361
20 g
0 33383 80104 9

Fresh Dill 1002330
20 g
6 25647 80101 0

"Fresh Curly Parlsey" 1002391
20 g
6 25647 65017 5

"Fresh Italian Parlsey" 1002391
20 g
6 25647 65017 5

This is related to the recall of fresh greens originally recalled by J & D Produce Inc., Texas, USA. These fresh herbs were shipped to Canada on December 6, 2010, repackaged and sold thereafter under the Boncheff brand. The packages do not have a lot code or Best Before date.

These products have been distributed in Ontario.

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 this bacteria may cause salmonellosis, a foodborne 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 diarrhea. Long-term complications may include severe arthritis.

Boncheff Greenhouses, Toronto, 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 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.

*********************