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Food recall warning

Various in-shell hazelnuts (filberts) and mixed nuts containing hazelnuts recalled by Defranco & Sons, USA may contain E. coli O157:H7 bacteria

Starting date:: March 7, 2011
Type of communication:: Recall
Alert sub-type:: Updated Health Hazard Alert
Subcategory:: Microbiological - E. coli O157:H7
Hazard classification:: Class 1
Source of recall:: Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Recalling firm:: Martin's Produce Sales Ltd.
Distribution:: Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan
Extent of the product distribution:: Retail
CFIA reference number:: 6268

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Advisory details

Ottawa, March 7, 2011 - The public warning issued on March 4, 2011 has been expanded to include an additional product and to update product information.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume the in-shell hazelnuts (filberts) and mixed nuts containing hazelnuts described below because these products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. These in-shell hazelnuts (filberts) and mixed nuts containing hazelnuts have been recalled in the USA and Canada by DeFranco & Sons, USA due to E. coli O157:H7 contamination.

This is an ongoing food safety investigation. The CFIA is working with the United States Food and Drug Administration to identify all affected products imported into Canada from the USA. The CFIA is also working with Canadian importers to trace-back and recall all affected products that may have been distributed in Canada. As more products are identified, the CFIA will continue to update its list of recalled products.

The following products are affected by this alert:

Brand	Product	Size	UPC	Sell By Date
Sunripe	Large Hazelnuts	1 lb (454 g)	070533 000167	6/30/11
Sunripe	Mixed Nuts (with hazelnuts)	1 lb (454 g)	070533 000143	6/30/11
Sunripe	Mixed Nuts (with hazelnuts)	2 lb (908 g)	070533 001003	6/30/11
Sunripe	Imperial Mixed Nuts (with hazelnuts)	Sold in bulk	NA	Purchased after Nov 16, 2010
Sunripe	Supreme Mixed Nuts (with hazelnuts)	Sold in bulk	NA	Purchased after Nov 16, 2010
George Packing *	Hazelnuts	Sold in bulk	NA	Purchased after Nov 16, 2010

*Only product distributed by DeFranco and Sons between 11/2/10 to 12/22/10 (November 2, 2010 to December 22, 2010).

The bulk products identified in the table above may have been repackaged into smaller sized units with no label information. If you have purchased bulk or unlabelled, in-shell hazelnuts or in-shell mixed nuts containing hazelnuts after November 16, 2010, and are unsure if you have the recalled product, check with your place of purchase to determine if you have the affected product.

These products have been distributed in Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario and may have been distributed nationally.

There have been a number of illnesses in the USA associated with the consumption of these products. In Canada, two cases of E. coli illness have genetic fingerprints that match the USA illnesses, but these two cases have not to date been linked to the recalled products. The Public Health Agency of Canada is investigating these cases.

The CFIA is working with Canadian importers, distributors, and retailers to recall all affected products from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recalls.