Certain clams from Connecticut (USA) may contain Vibrio parahaemolyticus bacteria

Report a Concern
Starting date:
August 8, 2013
Type of communication:
Recall
Alert sub-type:
Updated Health Hazard Alert
Subcategory:
Microbiological - Other
Hazard classification:
Class 2
Source of recall:
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Recalling firm:
Allseas Fisheries Corp.
Distribution:
Ontario
Extent of the product distribution:
Retail
CFIA reference number:
8228

Advisory details

Ottawa, August 8, 2013 - The health hazard alert issued on August 7, 2013 has been updated to include additional distribution information.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume the clams described below because they may be contaminated with Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

Consumers who are unsure if they have purchased affected clams should contact their retailer.

The Canadian importers are voluntarily recalling the affected products from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recalls.

The Connecticut Department of Agriculture announced a recall of oysters and clams from certain harvest areas, reporting that they were implicated in a number of illnesses in the US. There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these oysters and clams in Canada. More information on the US recall is available at http://www.ct.gov/doag/cwp/view.asp?Q=529440&A=1401.

The following clams, sold in various weights and counts, are affected by this alert:

Affected products

Affected products
Brand name Common name Code(s) on product Additional info
-- Littleneck clams Codes or dates of sale
Sold from July 3/13 to August 6/13, inclusively 		Sold from
Loblaw, 60 Carleton St., Toronto ON
Loblaw, 1740 Richmond St. N., London ON
Loblaw, 5010 Glen Erin Dr., Mississauga, ON
Loblaw, 650 Dupont St., Toronto, ON
Loblaw, 3671 Dundas St. W., Etobicoke, ON
Loblaw, 585 Queen St. W., Toronto, ON
Loblaw, 3501 Yonge St., North York, ON
Loblaw, 396 St Clair Ave. W., Toronto, ON
Real Canadian Superstore, 1385 Harmony Rd. N., Oshawa ON
Real Canadian Superstore, 51 Gerry Fitzgerald Dr., Toronto, ON
Sobeys, 344 Glendale Ave., St Catharines, ON
Zehrs, 200 Franklin Blvd., Cambridge ON
Zehrs, 472 Bayfield St., Barrie, ON

Media enquiries

CFIA Media Relations
613-773-6600

For more information

Food contaminated with Vibrio parahaemolyticus may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with these bacteria may cause vibriosis, a food borne illness. Symptoms include watery and/or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, headache, fever, and chills. Symptoms usually appear about 12-24 hours after eating contaminated food products, but the onset can range from four to 96 hours. Severe illness is rare and occurs more commonly in persons with weakened immune systems.

For more information on foodborne pathogens, visit the Causes of Food Poisoning web page.


For more information, consumers and industry can contact the CFIA by filling out the online feedback form.