Salmonella death adds to Canada food recall alarm
The outbreak comes amid consumer alarm over a massive recall by Maple Leaf Foods Inc of ready-to-eat meats. An outbreak of listeriosis food poisoning from deli meats produced at the company's Toronto plant has been linked to the deaths of 15 people.
Quebec public health director Horacio Arruda said the salmonella outbreak had no connection to the Maple Leaf case. Three brands of cheese were being recalled after an unusually high number of salmonellosis cases were reported.
"There was one fatality and 40 percent of the cases were hospitalized," Arruda told reporters in Montreal in a televised news conference.
The brands of cheese recalled are La Chaudiere, Polo and Tradition, bought between July 24 and Aug. 24, the health agency said in a statement.
Salmonella bacteria are a common cause of food poisoning, resulting in fever, chills, diarrhea and dehydration. Children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems are most at risk.
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