Public Health Notice Update - Outbreak of Listeria; consumers advised not to consume packaged salad products from the Dole processing plant in Springfield, Ohio

This notice has been updated to advise Canadians not to consume packaged salads products from the Dole processing plant in Springfield, Ohio. A food recall warning has been issued from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Why you should take note?
The Public Health Agency of Canada is collaborating with federal and provincial public health partners, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the United States Food and Drug Administration to investigate an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to Dole packaged salad products produced from a US processing facility in Springfield, Ohio. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has issued a food recall warning advising Canadians of the recall to Dole packaged salad products under various product names that have been distributed in eastern provinces.

The Public Health Agency of Canada advises Canadians not to consume packaged salad products that have been processed at the Dole facility in Springfield, Ohio. This includes Dole brand items as well as items sold under other brand names. For a full list of products, please refer to the CFIA recall notice. These products can be identified by letter "A" at the beginning of the manufacturing code found on the package.

The overall risk to Canadians is low. Listeria is a type of bacteria that can be found in food, soil, plants, sewage and other places in nature. Eating food with Listeria on it can cause a serious disease, called listeriosis, in high-risk groups.

Also read, Public Health Notice - Outbreak of Listeria infections under investigation.

Ongoing Investigation
Currently, there are seven (7) cases of Listeria monocytogenes in five provinces related to this outbreak: Ontario (3), Quebec (1), New Brunswick (1), Prince Edward Island (1), and Newfoundland and Labrador (1). Individuals became sick between September 2015 and early January 2016. Some of the individuals who became ill have reported eating packaged salads. It is suspected that these salads were produced at the Dole facility in Ohio. The majority of Canadians cases (71%) are female, with an average age of 81 years. All cases have been hospitalized, and one person has died, however it has not been determined if Listeria contributed to the cause of death.

Who is most at risk?
Some people face a higher risk of becoming sick with Listeria than others. Those who are at highest risk of serious illness include pregnant women and their unborn/newborn children, adults 65 and over, and people with weakened immune systems. High-risk individuals should not consume the recalled products.

What you should do to protect your health?
If you have packaged salad products from the Dole processing facility in Springfield, Ohio in your home, do not eat them. For a list of product brands and names, as well as stores that these products were sold at, please read the recall notice.

If you are unsure whether your packaged salad product is part of the food recall warning, do not consume it. Secure the product in a plastic bag, throw it out and wash your hands with warm soapy water.

Foods that are contaminated with Listeria may look, smell and taste normal. Unlike most bacteria, Listeria can survive and sometimes grow on foods being stored in the refrigerator.
If you suspect you have become ill from eating a Dole packaged salad product, or have symptoms consistent for listeriosis, talk with your healthcare provider.

Symptoms

Many people are exposed to Listeria, but only a few will actually develop listeriosis. Mild symptoms may include:

• fever
• muscle aches
• nausea
• diarrhea

Severe symptoms may include:

• headache
• poor coordination
• seizures
• neck stiffness

In the milder form of the disease, symptoms can start the following day after consuming a product with Listeria. For the more serious form of the disease, the incubation period is generally much longer; on average about 21 days, but can be up to 70 days after exposure.

Listeriosis can be treated with antibiotics, but early diagnosis is key, especially for people at high-risk, such as pregnant women, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.

What the Public Health Agency of Canada is doing
The Government of Canada is committed to food safety. The Public Health Agency of Canada is leading the human health investigation of this outbreak and is in regular contact with its federal and provincial partners to monitor and take collaborative steps to address the outbreak.

Health Canada provides food-related health risk assessments to determine if the presence of a certain substance or microorganism poses a health risk to consumers.
The CFIA conducts food safety investigations into the possible food source of an outbreak.
The Government of Canada will continue to update Canadians if new information related to this investigation becomes available.

Additional information

• Food Recall Warning Dole packaged salad products
• Listeriosis and Listeria Fact Sheet
• Leafy Greens Fact Sheet
• CDC Multi-state listeriosis outbreak

SOURCE Public Health Agency of Canada