Listeriosis Fear Prompts Recall of Bacon from Canada

Washington, DCThe United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has recalled 380,000 pounds of precooked bacon products from a Canadian company after testing in July found samples of the bacon tested positive for the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes, which causes listeriosis.

The USDA points out that the bacon from Aliments Prince, Ontario has recalled bacon from Canada and not Canadian bacon. The recalled products only refer to bacon from Aliments Prince dated before August 10th and involves the following products:

• 10-lb. transport container with two 5-lb. packages of "Napoli Cooked Bacon Topping".
Case code 83600
• 10-lb. transport container with two 5-lb. packages of "Stefano Brand Cooked Diced Bacon".
Case code 83601
• 10-lb. transport container with two 5-lb. packages of "Bellissimo Cooked Diced Bacon".
Case code code 83602
• 10-lb. transport container with two 5-lb. packages of "Olymel Cooked Diced Bacon".
Case code 83603
• 10-lb. transport container with two 5-lb. packages of "Assoluti Cooked Diced Bacon".
Case code 83608

The Food Safety and Inspection Service stated on its website that “labels on the shipping containers have "EST No. 169A" and "Product of Canada." The products were shipped to distribution centers in the U.S. for further distribution to food service institutions."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) listeriosis is a major public health problem in the US. Although the majority of listeriosis cases result in flu-like symptoms, some vulnerable individuals-- pregnant women, newborns, very elderly individuals, and those with weakened immune systems-- can develop invasive listeriosis, which requires immediate hospitalization and can result in death.