Ottawa shoppers who like to stock up on prepared dips and salsas should take a second look at what's in the fridge this week. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) issued a recall on Thursday for several Whole Foods Market brand products, after they were linked to a salmonella outbreak that's already sickened people in the United States.
What's being recalled
The recall covers a range of Whole Foods Market brand prepared foods, including various guacamoles, pico de gallos and salsas. The CFIA says these products were pulled after being connected to an ongoing salmonella outbreak south of the border, and the agency is urging anyone who bought them to check their kitchens carefully rather than assume the risk doesn't apply north of the border.
Salmonella infections typically cause symptoms like diarrhea, fever, vomiting and stomach cramps that show up within a few days of eating contaminated food. Most healthy adults recover on their own, but the CFIA notes that young children, older adults, pregnant people and anyone with a weakened immune system face a higher risk of serious complications and should be especially cautious.
The Ottawa angle
Ottawa itself doesn't have a standalone Whole Foods Market location, but that doesn't mean local shoppers are in the clear. Plenty of Ottawa residents pick up Whole Foods Market brand products while travelling to Toronto, Kingston or other Ontario cities that do have stores, order them online for delivery, or buy items carried under the Whole Foods Market label at other retailers. Given how easily groceries cross city lines these days, it's worth Ottawa households checking pantries and fridges for any of the recalled items, especially with back-to-school lunches and weekend get-togethers keeping dip trays and salsa jars in heavy rotation.
Ottawa Public Health and the CFIA both recommend that anyone who finds a recalled product at home should not eat it. Throw it out or return it to the store where it was purchased for a refund. If you're not sure whether a product you have matches the recall, the CFIA's recall notice includes specific product names, sizes and UPC codes to check against.
What to watch for
If you or someone in your household has eaten any of the recalled products recently and is experiencing symptoms consistent with salmonella poisoning, health officials recommend contacting a doctor, especially if symptoms are severe or don't improve after a couple of days. As with any food recall, the safest move is simply not to take the risk — when in doubt, toss it out.
The CFIA says it's continuing to monitor the situation and may expand the recall as the investigation into the outbreak progresses, so Ottawa shoppers should keep an eye on updates in the days ahead.
Source: CBC Ottawa
