Canadian Food Inspection Agency, together with Mariposa Meats has issue a warning that certain Old Style brand meat products are contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and should not be consumed.
 
All following ‘Best Before’ date codes of Old Style brand products are affected by this alert:
 
•        Smoked Pork Loin Chops / 175 g / UPC 6 28292 80045 2
•        Thin Sliced Chicken Breast / 350 g / UPC 6 28292 50002 4.
•        Thin Sliced Honey Ham / 450 g / UPC 6 28292 50001 7.
•        Thin Sliced Roast Beef / 375 g / UPC 6 28292 50003 1.
•        Thin Sliced Pastrami / 375 g / UPC 6 28292 50004 8.
•        Thin Sliced Summer Sausage / 350 g / UPC 6 28292 50006 2.
•        Smoked pork loin chops, 175 grams, UPC 6 28292 80045 2, best before date 23rd January 2009.
•        Thin sliced chicken breast, 350 grams, UPC 6 28292 50002 4, best before date 16th January 2009.
 
So far, no related illnesses has been reported, though consuming listeria contaminated food means a person will carry the bacteria, even though he does not develop symptoms of listeriosis.  The elderly, infants, the sick and those with a weak or compromised immune system are most vulnerable to developing the disease.
 
It is impossible to tell whether food is contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes as it does not look or smell spoiled.  Consuming food contaminated with this bacteria causes listeriosis, a foodborne illness with symptoms that included high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea.
 
Of note is the fact that pregnant women developing listeriosis in their first trimester run the risk of miscarrying, while women in later stages of pregnancy are at risk of delivering a stillborn or acutely ill infant.
 
Consumers with questions should call the Canadian Food Inspection Agency at 1-800-442-2342.