Baby food recalled after botulism threat
Around 10 packages removed from Yellowknife shelves
Jessica Davey-Quantick
Northern News Services
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Loblaw's Companies Limited, the parent company of Shoppers Drug Mart and Independent Grocer, issued a recall on Friday for baby food because of a food poisoning threat.
Packages of PC Organics brand apple, blueberry and green pea strained baby food with an Oct. 31, 2017 best-before date and UPC code 060383063937 have been recalled after a food poisoning threat. About 10 packages were removed from shelves at Glen's Independent. - Jessica Davey-Quantick/NNSL photo |
The PC Organics brand apple, blueberry and green pea strained baby food was recalled nationwide after a customer complaint, as it may permit the growth of clostridium botulinum, the bacteria spores that cause botulism.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) considers this type of contamination "high-risk," which means there is a high risk that eating or drinking the food will lead to serious health problems or death. Infant botulism occurs when small children eat the spores of the bacteria, which can then multiply in their intestines and release toxins.
The contaminated product is the 128-ml size, with a best-before date of Oct. 31, 2017 and a UPC code of 060383063937.
Both of Yellowknife's Independent stores carry the product. Shoppers Drug Mart declined to comment, and would not confirm if they carried the product or if any had been removed due to the recall.
An employee at Trevor's Independent, who didn't want to be named, told Yellowknifer none of the store's stock had to be removed. Downtown, Glen Meek, owner of Glen's Independent, says he removed around 10 from his shelves.
Products not carrying that best before date or UPC code remain for sale.
"Because whatever happened, not all of that specific item was on our recall," said Meek. He added there have been no complaints from customers to his location.
According to a release from the CFIA, contaminated food may not look or smell spoiled, but can still make a person sick. Botulism symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, blurred or double vision, dry mouth, respiratory failure, paralysis and even death in severe cases. However, the release stated at this time there have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product specifically.
Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the store where it was purchased.
The CFIA stated in the release that they were conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. The agency receives approximately 20,000 reports per year from consumers concerning food safety, and oversees about 250 recall incidents each year.
