MONTREAL, QUEBEC – The public warning issued on November 26, 2010 has been expanded.
Following its November 26, 2010 announcement, Saputo Inc. (TSX:SAP) closed the production line on which the recalled process cheese products were manufactured and began an investigation in collaboration with CFIA which is still ongoing. Although the exact cause of the incident remains undetermined, the Company is placing public health interest first and is therefore voluntarily recalling all process cheese products manufactured on the affected production line. Saputo Inc. is taking these broader precautionary actions to respond proactively to the situation.
There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of the recalled products.
Saputo Inc. is warning the public and food service institutions, such as restaurants, hospitals and nursing homes, not to serve or consume the process cheese slice products described below as they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
The following products are affected by this recall:
| Brand | Product | Format | UPC | Plant Registration Number (REG) |
Best Before Dates Up to and including |
| Faith Farms | Ribbon Slices Process Cheese Product Made with Swiss Cheese | 2 x 2 kg | 065949040029 | 1900 | 2011 AL 16 |
| Faith Farms | Ribbon Slices Process Cheese Food | 2 x 2 kg | 065949040043 | 1900 | 2011 JL 18 |
| Faith Farms | Submarine Cut Process Cheese Food | 2 x 2 kg | 065949040050 | 1900 | 2011 JL 09 |
| Faith Farms | Pullman Slices Process Cheese Food | 2 x 2 kg | 065949040074 | 1900 | 2011 MA 07 |
| No Label | PCF – Colored Pullman | 8 x 2.27 kg | n/a | 1900 | 2011 OC 27 |
| St-Albert | Ribbon Slices Process Cheese Food | 2 x 2 kg | n/a | 1900 | 2011 JL 09 |
| Sunspun | Pullman Slices Process Cheese Food | 2 x 2 kg | 060383020262 | 1900 | 2011 AL 30 |
| Sunspun | Ribbon Slices Process Swiss Food | 2 x 2 kg | 060383101367 | 1900 | 2011 AL 15 |
| Sunspun | Submarine Slices Process Cheese Food | 2 x 2 kg | 060383128036 | 1900 | 2011 MA 10 |
These process cheese slice products may have been sold through retailers, cash and carry and deli stores and may also have been sold to food service institutions such as restaurants, hospitals, day care centres and nursing homes. If you have purchased unlabelled processed cheese slices check with your place of purchase to determine if you have the affected product.
These process cheese slice products have been distributed in Canada.
This voluntary recall represents approximately 150,000kg of cheese.
Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with these bacteria may cause listeriosis, a foodborne illness. Listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk. Infected pregnant women may experience only a mild, flu-like illness, however, infections during pregnancy can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or even stillbirth.
Saputo Inc. is voluntarily recalling the affected products from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.
For more information, consumers and industry can call one of the following numbers:
Saputo Inc. at 1-800-672-8866;
CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 / TTY 1-800-465-7735 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday).
About Saputo
Saputo produces, markets and distributes a wide array of products of the utmost quality, including cheese, fluid milk, yogurt, dairy ingredients and snack-cakes. Saputo is the 12th largest dairy processor in the world, the largest in Canada, the third largest in Argentina, among the top 3 cheese producers in the United States and the largest snack-cake manufacturer in Canada. Our products are sold in more than 40 countries under well-known brand names such as Saputo, Alexis de Portneuf, Armstrong, Baxter, Dairyland, Danscorella, De Lucia, Dragone, DuVillage 1860, Frigo Cheese Heads, Kingsey, La Paulina, Neilson, Nutrilait, Ricrem, Stella, Treasure Cave, HOP&GO!, Rondeau and Vachon. Saputo is a publicly traded company whose shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol SAP.
Source: Saputo