An international recall of Aunt Jemima brand frozen breakfast products spurred by the discovery of Listeria monocytogenes in a production plant has been expanded to include waffles and french toast sold nationwide in Canada.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency posted a recall for Pinnacle Foods Canada Corp. on Saturday, following similar action of Friday by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States.
Only three Aunt Jemima branded products are being recalled in Canada, compared to 19 Aunt Jemima and Hungry Man products under recall in the United States and one Aunt Jemima product in Mexico.
“Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below. Distributors, retailers and food service establishments such as hotels, restaurants, cafeterias, hospitals and nursing homes should not sell or use the recalled products described below,” according to the recall notice on the CFIA website.
“Check to see if you have recalled products in your home. Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the store where they were purchased.”
In Canada, consumers and food service operators can identify the recalled products by looking for the following labeling information:
- Aunt Jemima Waffles, 144 Count, 3.57 kg, with the UPC number 1 00 19600 43575 1;
- Aunt Jemima, Original Thin French Toast, 144 Count, 6.1 kg, with the UPC number 0 00 19600 05870 0; and
- Aunt Jemima Thick French Toast, 72 Count, 4.86 kg, with UPC number 0 00 19600 43560 0.
“Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick. Symptoms can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache and neck stiffness,” according to the CFIA recall notice.
Anyone who has eaten any of the recalled products and developed symptoms of Listeria infection should seek medical attention and tell their doctors about the possible exposure so that the proper diagnostic tests can be performed.
People who have eaten the recalled product but have not become ill should monitor themselves for the coming weeks because it can take up to 70 days for symptoms of Listeria infection to develop.
“Pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk. Although infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, the infection can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn or even stillbirth. In severe cases of illness, people may die,” the CFIA warned.
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