The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Diwa Products Ltd. are warning the public not to consume Diwa Brand Grated Coconut described below because it may be contaminated with Salmonella.
The products were distributed nationally, but the agency said that no confirmed illnesses had been associated with their consumption. The following Diwa Brand Coconut is affected by this alert. The product is sold frozen and is from the Philippines: Diwa Brand Grated Coconut, 16 oz., UPC 6 28838 52049 3, and Diwa Brand Grated Coconut, 40×16 oz. case, Code SPO313. Food contaminated with Salmonella may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with these 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. The importer of the coconut, Diwa Products Ltd. of Toronto, ON, is voluntarily recalling the affected product from the marketplace. The CFIA stated that it is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall. More information can be found on the CFIA Website.
