The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a recall for more than 10 brands of beef jelly tongue products sold in Ontario due to possible Listeria contamination, including this one from Wagener's Meat Products. (Canadian Food Inspection Agency via CBC News)
Four people in Ontario have fallen ill after consuming beef tongue suspected to be contaminated with Listeria, according to the Ontario Ministry of Health.
In response, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a recall of various brands of jellied beef tongue sold in Ontario stores. Some of the recalled products were served by store staff, while others were sold pre-packaged.
The agency is currently investigating and has warned that more products could be added to the recall list. It urges consumers to check for the recalled beef tongue products and either dispose of them or return them to the store.
Listeria contamination isn’t always easy to detect, as affected food may not appear or smell spoiled but can still cause illness. Listeriosis, the illness caused by the bacteria, can lead to symptoms like vomiting, fever, muscle aches, severe headaches, and a stiff neck.
The elderly, those with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women are particularly at risk. While pregnant women might only experience mild flu-like symptoms, the infection could lead to premature birth, infect the newborn, or even cause stillbirth. In severe cases, listeriosis can be deadly.
As of Monday, the following stores in Ontario were affected by the recall:
- Summerhill Market
- Wagener's Meat Products
- Battaglia's Marketplace
- Brandt Meats
- Angelos Italian Bakery Market
- Starsky Fine Foods
- Staropolskie Delikatesy
- The Wild Hog Country Market
- Oceans Fresh Food Market
- Pusateri's
- Stemmler's Meats & Cheese Retail Store
- Italo Foods
- Yummy Market
- Coppas
- Whitehouse Bloor
- McEwan Shops
- Scheffler's Deli
- Vincenzo's
Consumers are urged to take caution and review any beef tongue purchases from these stores.
