VANCOUVER, BC Following a provincial product recall, the British Columbia
Centre for Disease Control is warning the public not to consume Camembert cheese
manufactured by Moonstruck Organic Cheese located on Saltspring Island. This
recall is the result of a routine sampling program by the BCCDC, which revealed
that one wheel of the finished product contained the Listeria monocytogenes
bacteria. Other batches of product may also be affected.
Three Camembert varieties are potentially contaminated, including White Moon,
Savoury Moon, and Ash-Ripened. Affected products include:
- Code 240110, with best before dates of 03/03/10, 10/03/10, and 24/03/10
- Code 200110, with best before date 03/03/10
- Code 290110. with best before dates 10/03/10, 17/03/10, 23/03/10
- Code 050210 with best before dates 17/03/10, 23/03/10, 02/04/10
- Code 120210 with best before dates 23/03/10, 02/04/10
- Code 190210, with best before date 02/04/10
In order to ensure the health and safety of their consumers, the manufacturer
has provided product labels so the public can easily identify the affected
product. To view these labels, please see below.
This product was sold through various retailers in British Columbia, and anyone
who may have purchased this recalled cheese should not consume it, and discard
or return it to their place of purchase. The BCCDC is concerned that this cheese
product may still be in the homes of consumers as Camembert cheeses can be
stored and consumed well beyond the product’s best before date. Listeria, if
present, will grow to high numbers even if the cheese has been stored in the
refrigerator. Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or
smell spoiled.
The BCCDC is currently working with BC Health Authorities, the BC Ministry of
Healthy Living and Sport and the CFIA to ensure the recalled product is removed
from distribution and is investigating any possible cases of illness. Currently
there are no cases linked to this recall, and the manufacturer is cooperating
with authorities to ensure the product is removed from distribution.
Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause
listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease. To date, only one person
with listeriosis has been reported in BC this year, though this case was not
associated with the consumption of this product.
Healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever,
severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Listeria can
cause serious and sometimes fatal blood infections or meningitis in frail or
elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although infected
pregnant women may experience only a mild, flu-like illness, infections during
pregnancy can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn or even
stillbirth.
People with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, and the elderly should
avoid higher risk foods such as deli meats, smoked raw fish, unpasteurised milk
and cheese and soft pasteurised cheeses.
If you have consumed this recalled product and have symptoms compatible with
Listeria infection, call the 24-hour HealthLink BC Line at 1-866-215-4700,
contact your physician, or view the BC HealthFiles on Listeria at
www.bchealthguide.org/healthfiles. For more information, please visit:
www.bccdc.ca.
Source:
BC Center For Disease Control