For the second time in less than a month, smoked salmon products produced at a Vancouver-area manufacturer are being recalled over Listeria fears.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) warned Monday two smoked salmon products sold in B.C. might be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Vancouver-based Classic Smokehouse Inc. is voluntarily recalling the products.
Its Smoked Sockeye Cream Cheese Log was sold in 200g packages in various Vancouver-area stories. The products were packed on various dates from Oct. 16 to Nov. 12 and bear the UPC number CF831CS.
Maple Salmon Nuggets sold at various weights are also affected.
The products were sold at various retail outlets in Vancouver, Burnaby and West Vancouver, including two Choices Markets and three Whole Foods stores. Most of the products were on sale from November 2 to 8, though one outlet, Regent Fish Ltd., sold the salmon until Nov. 14.
After his company's Wild Sockeye Lox Trim was recalled over Listeria fears October 22, Classic Smokehouse President Stuart Dahlke told ctvbc.ca they were taking every precaution to ensure it wouldn't happen again.
"We're going to retest all new lots from now on."
Three out of 11 production days tested positive for the bacteria.
Dahlke said cold smoked products are more vulnerable to Listeria monocytogenes because the smoking process doesn't reach a high enough temperature to kill all the bacteria.
Calls to Dahlke from ctvbc.ca Monday have not yet been returned.
There have been no illnesses reported with the consumption of the products. Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled, according to the CFIA.
Related: CFIA Listeria fact sheet
Consuming food with these bacteria may cause the food borne illness listeriosis, which can cause high fever, severe backache, neck stiffness and nausea.
Pregnant women, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems are particularly vulnerable.
For more information consumers can call the CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 / TTY 1-800-465-7735.
