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Food recall warning

Certain dried BASIL may contain Salmonella bacteria

Starting date:: August 9, 2012
Type of communication:: Recall
Alert sub-type:: Health Hazard Alert
Subcategory:: Microbiological - Salmonella
Hazard classification:: Class 2
Source of recall:: Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Recalling firm:: Arsam Spices, Groupe Phoenicia Inc., QI Natural Foods - Eglinton
Distribution:: Ontario
Extent of the product distribution:: Retail
CFIA reference number:: 7375

Advisory details
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Advisory details

Ottawa, August 9, 2012 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public, distributors and food service establishments not to consume, sell, serve or use the dried Basil products described below because they may be contaminated with Salmonella.

This is an ongoing food safety investigation. The CFIA is working with various parties to identify and remove all affected basil products that were made with the dried basil recalled by Shah Trading Co. Ltd., Scarborough, Ontario on August 3, 2012.

Brand	Product	Size	UPC	Lot #
Cedar Phoenicia	Sweet basil	30 g	None	Sold since February 7, 2012
Arsam Spices	Basil	2 oz (57.1 g) 1.5 oz (42.5 g)	7 75434 01342 0	Sold since June 14, 2012
Ambrosia Natural Foods	Basil	2 oz (57.1 g) 1.5 oz (42.5 g)	7 75434 01342 0	Sold since June 14, 2012
Bruno's Fine Foods	Basil	2 oz (57.1 g) 1.5 oz (42.5 g)	7 75434 01342 0	Sold since June 14, 2012
Sold in bulk from Qi Natural Foods, 1001 Eglinton Avenue West, Toronto, ON	Basil	Various weights	None	Sold at Qi Natural Foods, 1001 Eglinton avenue West, Toronto, ON since June 26, 2012

These products have been distributed in Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Ontario. However, they may have been distributed in other provinces.

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.

The distributors are 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 the 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.

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