It has taken months, but the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Public Health Agency of Canada have tracked down the source of salmonella food poisoning – frozen chicken burgers distributed nation-wide by Loblaws under its No Name label.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency issued a recall on the weekend for chicken burgers with a best before date of Feb. 9.
There has been no explanation from either agency about why it took so long to issue the recall. Both had warned months ago about salmonella in frozen breaded chicken products.
If it turns out that Loblaws resisted admitting its chicken was responsible, I hope the stricken people launch a class-action lawsuit.
The Public Health Agency says on its website that “there are 59 cases of SalmonellaEnteritidis illness in eight provinces: British Columbia (six), Alberta (eight), Manitoba (nine), Ontario (14), Quebec (19), and one each in New Brunswick Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador.
“Ten people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. Individuals became sick between March and May.
“The average age of cases is 34 years, with ages ranging from one to 82. The majority of cases (61 per cent) are male. “
Based on the investigation findings to date, exposure to poultry, including frozen raw breaded chicken products, has been identified as a source of illness.”
