Cooked chicken recall products supplied to restaurants, food service, nursing homes

A recall warning about imported cooked diced chicken meat due to possible Listeria contamination has been expanded to include more than 50 products supplied to hotels, restaurants, hospitals and food service establishments such as nursing homes, and cafeterias across the country.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) issued the updated advisory Monday as part of an ongoing food investigation following some reported illnesses in Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia in recent months.

The brands involved include: AlimPlus Inc., Centennial Foodservice, Flamingo, Gordon Choice, Reuven International Ltd., Rosemount, Rosemount Sales & Marketing, Sysco Co., and Tip Top Poultry Inc.

Based on the findings to date, Rosemount brand cooked diced chicken has been identified by the Public Health Agency of Canada as a “likely source of the outbreak” .

“Rosemount cooked diced chicken was supplied to institutions (including cafeterias, hospitals and nursing homes) where many of the individuals who became sick resided, or visited, before becoming ill,” the website states.

The affected products were packaged between Jan. 22 and Sept. 24 and sold in sizes of 4, 4.54 and 13.64 kilograms, according to the CFIA.

A detailed list of the recalled products and photographs of labels, are available on the CFIA website.

Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled but can still make people sick, the health agency warns.

Five people fell ill between April and June, and two additional cases from November 2017 have been genetically linked, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. Six of the seven individuals, who are aged between 51 and 97, have been hospitalized. Listeriosis can be treated with antibiotics.

Symptoms of listeriosis can start within three days of eating contaminated food and may include fever, nausea, cramps, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, headache or muscle ache.

In severe cases, the bacteria can spread to the nervous system, and it can be fatal. Symptoms of severe listeriosis usually begin within two or three weeks after exposure and can include severe headache, confusion, neck stiffness and loss of balance.

People with weakened immune systems, over the age of 65 or pregnant are considered most at risk, according to the CFIA. Listeriosis during pregnancy can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn and stillbirth.

“The CFIA is verifying that industry is removing recalled product from the marketplace.”

Three other chicken product recalls were issued in August. All are related to the ongoing investigation.