The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has issued a recall for Taylor Farms’ Sweet Kale Chopped Kit in six provinces due to possible salmonella contamination.
The Dec. 2 advisory warns that the salad kits sold in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador may be contaminated with salmonella.
“This recall was triggered by Canadian Food Inspection Agency test results,” the agency said in its notice. “There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.”
The salad impacted by the recall is sold in 340-gram bags and has a best-before date of Dec. 6 or earlier.
Customers who have purchased the affected product are being cautioned by the food inspection agency to either discard it or return it to the store from which it was purchased.
CFIA said it is currently conducting a food safety investigation into the possible salmonella contamination, which may lead to the recall of other products.
Salmonella is an infection caused by Salmonella bacteria that can cause a wide range of symptoms, according to Health Canada.
Salmonella exposure does not cause illness in everyone, but those affected typically experience side effects within six to 72 hours, the agency’s website says. Young children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are most at risk.
The most common symptoms are chills, diarrhea, fever, nausea, stomach cramps, sudden headache, and vomiting. Most symptoms end within four to seven days.
“While most people recover completely on their own, some people may have a more serious illness that requires hospital care and may lead to long-lasting health effects or death,” Health Canada says. “Long-term complications may include severe arthritis.”
The most common complication from salmonellosis is dehydration, which can occur if vomiting and diarrhea is severe. In severe cases, patients may need to be treated with prescription drugs or be given fluids intravenously, Health Canada said.
Taylor Farms was also the subject of a national recall in February due to listeria contamination concerns linked to its Mexican-Style street corn salad kits. The advisory was issued as a precaution because the kits used a cheese linked to a deadly listeria outbreak in the United States.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said the cheese recalled by Rizo-López Foods, Inc. was connected to 23 hospitalizations and two deaths.
