MONTRÉAL, QUÉBEC--(Marketwired - June 12, 2016) - Saputo Inc. (TSX:SAP) (Saputo or the Company), the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, and Public Health Ontario have been working collaboratively to ensure the public is informed about an ongoing foodborne investigation associated with listeria infections and certain recalled Neilson partly skimmed chocolate milk products, in a variety of packaging sizes.
On June 4, 2016, Saputo Inc. recalled one Neilson partly skimmed chocolate milk product from the marketplace due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. This product bearing facility registration number (1590) had a best before date of June 1, 2016. An expanded recall was issued on June 5, 2016 on a number of Neilson partly skimmed chocolate milk products bearing facility registration number (1590), with best before dates up to and including June 22, 2016. Please refer to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) website for product details including product sizes (bags of milk and cartons), lot numbers and best before dates. Consumers should not consume the recalled products and either discard the products or return them for a refund. The recalled products were distributed in Ontario and Québec.
This product has now been linked to an ongoing Listeria investigation in Ontario associated with human illness.
"We are taking the situation very seriously. We are sorry for the individuals who became ill," said Lino A. Saputo, Jr., Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of the Board. "Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our products. We are doing everything within our power to ensure our products meet the high quality standards expected from us."
The process line on which the recalled products were manufactured remains closed. We continue to work closely with CFIA in their ongoing investigation.
Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick. Symptoms can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache and neck stiffness. Pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk. Although infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, the infection can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn or even stillbirth. In severe cases of illness, people may die.
We are issuing concurrently a joint statement with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Public Health Ontario to remind Ontarians of the recall and of the potential for severe illness associated with Listeria infection, particularly among higher risk populations, including seniors, people with weakened immune systems, parents of young children and pregnant women.
For more information, consumers and industry can contact:
- Saputo Inc. at 1-866-665-3070 or consumer@saputo.com
- CFIA at 1-800-442-2342
- TTY 1-800-465-7735, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday
Information on the recall warning, including product description, lot codes and best before dates is available on www.saputo.com, in the News releases section, as well as on the CFIA website: http://inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/2016-06-04d/eng/1465019472917/1465019475559 and http://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/2016-06-05b/eng/1465171011098/1465171013904.
Information on Listeria can be found on the Public Health Agency of Canada website. http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/fs-sa/fs-fi/listerios-eng.php
About Saputo
Saputo produces, markets, and distributes a wide array of dairy products of the utmost quality, including cheese, fluid milk, extended shelf-life milk and cream products, cultured products and dairy ingredients. Saputo is one of the top ten dairy processors in the world, the largest cheese manufacturer and the leading fluid milk and cream processor in Canada, the third largest dairy processor in Argentina, and the fourth largest in Australia. In the US, Saputo ranks among the top three cheese producers and is one of the largest producers of extended shelf-life and cultured dairy products. Our products are sold in several countries under well-known brand names such as Saputo, Alexis de Portneuf, Armstrong, COON, Cracker Barrel*, Dairyland, DairyStar, Friendship Dairies, Frigo Cheese Heads, La Paulina, Milk2Go/Lait's Go, Neilson, Nutrilait, Scotsburn*, Stella, Sungold, Treasure Cave and Woolwich Dairy. Saputo Inc. is a publicly traded company and its shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "SAP".
*Trademark used under licence.
Contact Information:
Sandy Vassiadis
Director, Corporate Communications
(514) 328-3347