Staphylococcus Bacterial Toxin May Be in Recalled Smoked Meat

OTTAWA, November 4, 2008 – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Les Salaisons Desco Inc. are warning the public not to consume the Dunn’s Famous brand Smoked Meat pouches described below because this product may be contaminated with Staphylococcus toxin.

The affected product, Dunn’s Famous brand Smoked Meat pouches, is sold in 1 kg boxes bearing UPC 4 00007 55699 7 and the Best Before Date 2008 NO 13.  A Canada logo with the number 501 also appears on the outside of the box.  The 1 kg boxes contain 6 plain wrapped 175 g smoked meat pouches.

This product has been distributed only through the following Costco store locations in British Columbia: Surrey, Kelowna, Port Coquitlam, Langford, Langley and Downtown Vancouver.

Food contaminated with Staphylococcus toxin may not look or smell spoiled. The toxin produced by Staphylococcus bacteria is not easily destroyed at normal cooking temperatures. Common symptoms of Staphylococcus poisoning are nausea, vomiting,  abdominal cramping and fever. In severe cases, headache, muscle cramping and changes in blood pressure and pulse rate may occur.

The S. aureus bacterium, which is found on the skin or in the nose of about 25 percent to 30 percent of people, is the most common cause of staph infections. It can also cause minor skin infections such as boils and pimples, and major illnesses such as pneumonia, meningitis, endocarditis and toxic shock syndrome.

"Our research shows in vivo that PVL is sufficient to cause pneumonia. PVL-producing S. aureus overexpress other factors that enhance inflammation and bacterial attachment to the lung. These combined effects result in a vicious cycle of tissue destruction and inflammation, explaining the rapid onset and lethal outcome of this type of pneumonia," Bowden said.