A public warning about sausage from Paolini’s Sausage and Meats of Calgary, Alberta, has been upgraded to a recall with additional meats added to the list of products that may have been contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. “Consumers should not consume and distributors, retailers and food service establishments should not sell or use the recalled products,” according to the recall notice on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) website. “The affected products have been sold and distributed by Paolini’s Sausage and Meats, Calgary, Alberta, and may have been sold by other retailers, in Alberta up to and including Feb. 5. These products may have been sold pre-packaged or clerk-served, with or without a label. Consumers who are unsure if they have the affected products are advised to check with their retailer.” The public warning and recall are in response to CFIA findings during an investigation into a current foodborne illness outbreak in Alberta. The CFIA advises consumers and business owners to check for the recalled meats and throw them away or return them to the place of purchase. The recalled products do not have any identifying codes, lot numbers or dates. The CFIA lists the products as:
- Hungarian Farmer Sausage;
- Hot Hungarian Farmer Sausage;
- Mexican Twist Sausage;
- Buffalo Hungarian Sausage;
- Wesfalian Smokies;
- Onion Mettwurst/Frishe Zwiebel Mettwurst;
- Fine Mettwurst;
- Course Mettwurst;
- Ritterwurst/Pfeffer-sackchen; and
- Landjager.
Canadian officials warn that food contaminated with E. coli may not look or smell spoiled but can still cause illnesses. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, mild to severe abdominal cramps and watery to bloody diarrhea. In severe cases of illness, some people may have seizures or strokes, need blood transfusions and kidney dialysis or live with permanent kidney damage. In some severe cases of illness, people may die. (To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here.)