The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Ontario Ministry of Health are warning restaurants in the Greater Toronto Area not to purchase, use, or serve certain brandless Shredded pork rinds because of possible Salmonella contamination.

This warning was triggered by an investigation into a foodborne illness outbreak of salmonellosis. The outbreak is associated with consumption of food dishes containing shredded pork rind and/or shredded pork skin from certain restaurants serving Vietnamese NS other Asian cuisine in the GTA.

These products were sold frozen to restaurants in clear plastic bags with no labels, no lot codes, no identifiers, and no cooking instructions. 

Recalled products:

The following products are known to have been sold to certain restaurants in the GTA which serve Vietnamese/Asian meals

Brand	Product	Size	UPC	Codes	Additional Information
None	Shredded pork rind	various	none	none	Products are sold frozen in clear plastic bags, with no labels, no lot codes, no identifiers, and no cooking instructions.
None	Shredded pork skin	various	none	none

Restaurants should check to see if you have the affected products. If the products are in their facility, they should not be used.

As of the posting of this warning, there have been reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products. The Ontario Ministry of Health, in collaboration with Public Health Ontario, local public health units and food safety partners are investigating an outbreak of human illness.

About Salmonella infections
Food contaminated with Salmonella bacteria does not usually look, smell, or taste spoiled. Anyone can become sick with a Salmonella infection. Infants, children, seniors  and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness because their immune systems are fragile, according to the CDC.

Anyone who has consumed any of the recalled products and developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention. Sick people should tell their doctors about the possible exposure to Salmonella bacteria because special tests are necessary to diagnose salmonellosis. Salmonella infection symptoms can mimic other illnesses, frequently leading to misdiagnosis.

Symptoms of Salmonella infection can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Otherwise, healthy adults are usually sick for four to seven days. In some cases, however, diarrhea may be so severe that patients require hospitalization.

Older adults, children, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, are more likely to develop severe illness and serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions.

Some people get infected without getting sick or showing any symptoms. However, they may still spread the infections to others.

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