HQ Fine Foods is recalling various brands of sandwiches in Canada for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. These products were distributed nationally at the retail level. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.
You can see the long list of recalled products at the CFIA web site, along with the package size, UPC number, and codes on the products. Some of the recalled products include Best Value Pizza Sub, Fresh and Local Super Pizza Sub, Hygaard Mini Ham Sub Family Pack, Hygaard Super Ham Sub, Made to Go Roast Beef Sub, Quality Fast Foods Super Submarine, Quality Fast Foods Our Super Submarine, and Quality Fast Foods Classics Pizza Sub, among others. There is zero tolerance for Listeria monocytogenes bacteria in ready-to-eat foods.
The recall was triggered by CFIA test results. If you purchased any of these products, do not eat them. Throw them away in a sealed or double bagged package, or take them back to the store where you bought them for a full refund.
You should then clean out your refrigerator with a solution of 1 tablespoon liquid chlorine bleach to 1 gallon of warm water to kill any bacteria. This pathogenic bacteria can grow at refrigerator temperatures. Wash your hands well with soap and after after cleaning and after handling these products.
If you ate any of these recalled products, you need to monitor your health for the symptoms of listeriosis for the next 70 days. Most people experience severe headache, neck stiffness, muscle aches, high fever, vomiting, and nausea. Pregnant women may only have a mild flu-like illness, but listeriosis can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, infection of the newborn baby, and premature delivery. If you do feel ill, see your doctor.
