Various in-shell hazelnuts (filberts) and mixed nuts containing… — recall 49580

Reported risk: Ottawa, March 7, 2011 - The public warning issued on March 4, 2011 has been expanded to include an additional product and to update product information. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume the in-shell hazelnuts (filberts) and mixed nuts containing hazelnuts described below because these products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. These in-shell hazelnuts (filberts) and mixed nuts containing hazelnuts have been recalled in the USA and Canada by DeFranco & Sons, USA due to E. coli O157:H7 contamination. This is an ongoing food safety investigation. The CFIA is working with the United States Food and Drug Administration to identify all affected products imported into Canada from the USA . The CFIA is also working with Canadian importers to trace-back and recall all affected products that may have been distributed in Canada. As more products are identified, the CFIA will continue to update its list of recalled products. The following products are affected by this alert: *Only product distributed by DeFranco and Sons between 11/2/10 to 12/22/10 (November 2, 2010 to December 22, 2010). The bulk products identified in the table above may have been repackaged into smaller sized units with no label information. If you have purchased bulk or unlabelled, in-shell hazelnuts or in-shell mixed nuts containing hazelnuts after November 16, 2010, and are unsure if you have the recalled product, check with your place of purchase to determine if you have the affected product. These products have been distributed in Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario and may have been distributed nationally. There have been a number of illnesses in the USA associated with the consumption of these products. In Canada, two cases of E. coli illness have genetic fingerprints that match the USA illnesses, but these two cases have not to date been linked to the recalled products. The Public Health Agency of Canada is investigating these cases. The CFIA is working with Canadian importers, distributors, and retailers to recall all affected products from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recalls.