Hams from Berwick Meadowbrook Meat Market May Contain Listeria Monocytogenes

AGRICULTURE--Hams from Berwick Meadowbrook Meat Market May Contain Listeria Monocytogenes

• ---------------------------------------------------------------The Department of Agriculture and Meadowbrook Meat Market of Berwick are warning the public not to consume certain fully cooked boneless hams from Meadowbrook Meat Market because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The products affected are fully cooked boneless hams bearing the best before dates of April 1 and April 3.

The hams were sold at the Meadowbrook Meat Market retail store in Berwick and at Alderney Landing Farm Market in Dartmouth, with limited wholesale distribution in mainland Nova Scotia.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product. The bacteria was discovered through internal quality assurance testing.

Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with these bacteria may cause listeriosis, a foodbourne illness. Listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea.

Pregnant women, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk. Infected pregnant women may experience only a mild, flu-like illness, however, infections during pregnancy can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or stillbirth.

The Berwick Meadowbrook Meat Market is voluntarily recalling the affected product from the marketplace. For more information, consumers can call Margie Lamb, Meadowbrook Meat Market, at 902-680-0243.

For information on Listeria monocytogenes, visit the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Food Facts webpage at http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/concen/cause/listeriae.shtml