Murray Wood: Of Easter bunny bells and Juicy Fruit gum
For Murray Wood, Easter brings to mind grandma's practical advice about repurposing, and some of life's little lessons.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has announced recalls due to possible listeria contamination affecting products including salads, cheese and meal kits.
The agency says Co-Op brand creamy garlic and spinach salad, sold in Saskatchewan as well as in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Northwest Territories with best-before dates between March 24 and April 4 are recalled and should not be consumed.
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Although the agency listed it as a creamy garlic and spinach salad, photographs of the barcode on their website show it is a creamy garlic and spinach pasta salad.
Numerous cheese products sold nationally, including Bothwell shredded three-cheese nacho blend in 400-gram and one-kilogram quantities, Goldstream cheddar style shredded processed cheese product, and Paradise Island brand Asiago shredded cheese are also among the recalls over listeria concerns.
A recall for some cheese ingredients included in certain Hello Fresh brand meal kits, sold across Canada has also been expanded from an earlier one issued last Monday.
Complete lists of affected products are available on the CFIA website.
Listeria can contaminate a food product without making it appear spoiled, and those who consume those foods may develop symptoms including vomiting, nausea and persistent fever, although the CFIA says there have been no reported illnesses associated with any of the recalls.
Symptoms and causes of listeria
Listeria bacterium can cause listeriosis.
Symptoms of listeriosis can start as early as three days after eating contaminated food and may appear up to 70 days after exposure, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Symptoms can include fever, nausea, cramps, diarrhoea, vomiting, headache, constipation and muscle aches.
In severe cases, the bacteria can spread to the nervous system (the brain, spinal cord and nerves). Symptoms of severe listeriosis include stiff neck, confusion, headache and loss of balance.
Listeria bacterium is found in soil, sewage and untreated water. It can also be found in foods such as meat, seafood, fruits, vegetables and dairy products.
It can get into fruits and vegetables if contaminated water is used on crops. They can also become contaminated from Listeria in soil and manure-based fertilizers.
Food manufacturing and processing facilities can also spread the bacteria if contaminated water or contaminated ingredients are used there, Health Canada says.
The illness is generally not spread between people, but those with weakened immune systems, adults over the age of 60 and pregnant women — including their fetus or newborn baby — are at heightened risk of listeriosis complications.
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