Continued surveillance for listeriosis due to recall of apple product
On April 29th, 2015 the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) issued a recall of apple products and products containing apples produced by Sun Rich Fresh Foods Inc. in Brampton due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
As noted on our May 5th, 2015 website post to the community, the affected product was offered as a menu option to patients (both inpatient and outpatient) at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. Upon notice of the recall, all products with the lot numbers indicated in the recall were immediately identified and removed from St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton facilities. It is however possible, that patients may have received the product prior to the recall notice, during the period between April 15th to 30th, 2015.
As listeriosis has an incubation period of up to 70 days, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton is reminding the public and healthcare providers to maintain a heightened awareness for symptoms connected with listeriosis due to the recent recall of sliced apple products and the incubation period in which symptoms may appear.
Any St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton patients, visitors or members of the community experiencing symptoms of listeriosis, as outlined below, should seek attention of their Family Physician or visit your closest Emergency Room or Urgent Care Centre.
In addition to hospitals, the affected apple products may have also been distributed in the community through places like retail stores, food service establishments, nursing homes and hotels.
The CFIA is reporting one illness in Peel associated with consumption of this product. A individual in Hamilton has tested positive for listeriosis but further testing has confirmed that this case is not related to the apple product recall.
Along with Hamilton Public Health Services, Infection Prevention & Control at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton is monitoring the issue closely across our patient population.
More information about the recall and a list of the recalled items is available on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency website.
What is Listeriosis?
Listeriosis is a rare foodborne infection caused by consumption of contaminated foods. Commonly implicated foods include unpasteurized dairy products and foods contaminated after processing such as hot dogs, cold cuts or deli meats. Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled and the bacteria can grow even if the food is stored in the refrigerator. Illness occurs most commonly in the elderly, pregnant or immunocompromised individuals.
Listeriosis can lead to mild illness with flu-like symptoms, fever, muscle aches, and gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea or diarrhea. Infections in pregnancy and immunocompromised patients can also be severe causing meningitis, encephalitis or sepsis. It can also lead to miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal disease. The incubation period is up to 70 days. Diagnosis is through laboratory testing and detection of Listeria monocytogenes, a gram positive rod, from CSF, blood, amniotic fluid, placenta, meconium or other sites of infection.
For more information about listeriosis, you can speak with your family physician or contact the City of Hamilton’s Public Health Services at905-546-3500 or via email: publichealth@hamilton.ca