G. Brandt Meat Packers Ltd. in Ottawa, Canada is recalling Brandt Mini Smoked Farmer Sausage because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. No illnesses have been reported to the company to date in connection with this issue.
The recalled products include Brandt Mini Smoked Farmer Sausage sold in 0.450 kg packages, with UPC number 0 773321 204609 and codes 2046 Best Before 20JL08; Brandt Mini Smoked Farmer Sausage sold in 0.375 kg packages with UPC number 0 773321 204500 and codes 2043 Best Before 20JL08; and Brandt Mini Smoked Farmer Sausage sold in various weight packages with no UPC number and codes 2045 Best Before 20JL08. These products were sold in Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan at the retail consumer level.
If you bought any of those products, do not eat them, even if you plan to cook them thoroughly. There is potential for cross-contamination, and once Listeria Monocytogenes is introduced into an environment it can be very difficult to eradicate. Throw the sausages away in a sealed container inside a secure garbage can, or take them back to the store where you purchased them for a full refund.
You should then clean out your refrigerator or freezer with a mild bleach solution to kill any remaining pathogens. Listeria monocytogenes grows at refrigerator temperatures, and freezing temperatures don’t kill it. Wash your hands well with soap and water after handling the sausage packages and after cleaning.
If you ate any of these sausages, monitor yourself for the symptoms of listeriosis for the next 70 days. This illness can take that long to start. Symptoms include vomiting, nausea, persistent high fever, severe headache, and neck stiffness. Pregnant women may have a mild illness similar to the flu, but listeriosis can cause miscarriage and stillbirth. If you do feel sick, see your doctor.
