Canada listeria outbreak: Costco Signature brand platters recalled

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd are warning the public not to serve or consume the Kirkland Signature brand platters described below because these products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The recall is being initiated as these platters contain a ready-to-eat deli meat product recalled by Maple Leaf Consumer Foods, Burlington, ON. The following Kirkland Signature brand platters are affected by this alert:

• Kirkland Signature Croissant Platter, best before 08 AU 28, UPC code 0 00000 29048 7
• Kirkland Signature Meat & Cheese Platter, best before 08 AU 29, UPC Code  00000 10683 20

 These platters were sold at Costco Wholesale stores throughout Canada.

Tests have linked Maple Leaf’s Toronto plant to a nationwide outbreak of listeriosis that is known to have claimed the lives of five people; 10 other deaths with links to the outbreak remain under investigation.

http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Canada/2008/08/28/6600466.html, http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/corpaffr/recarapp/2008/20080827e.shtml

Costco to post FDA mercury advice about seafood, Wal-Mart and Publix refuse

Costco Wholesale Corporation has committed to warn its customers about mercury contamination in fish.   Costco will post the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mercury advice on signs at seafood counters in all its stores. The move, prompted by requests from Oceana and Costco members, follows similar action by other major grocery chains nationwide.

“With Costco’s customer-oriented decision, more than one in three major grocery stores is now posting the government advice about mercury in fish,” said Jackie Savitz, senior campaign director for Oceana.  “Signs help shoppers in states like Washington, Oregon and Nevada to make informed choices about what they buy and feed their families.  But in other states, shoppers are unlikely to learn about the healthiest fish unless companies like Wal-Mart, A&P and Publix get on board,” Savitz added.

Listeria risk: Costco added to stores recalling Discover Cuisine frozen chicken dinners

USDA News Release, Class I Recall,  Health Risk High

(Class 1 USDA recalls are the most serious and involve a health hazard situation in which there is a reasonable probability that eating the food will cause health problems or death.)

Following Sunday’s announcemenet that Meijer Distribution Center was voluntarily recalling approximately 2,184 pounds of frozen chicken entrées that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, Costco Wholesale, an Issaquah, Wash. firm, is voluntarily recalling approximately 10,368 pounds of frozen chicken entrées that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Four-pack of 12-ounce packages of “Discover Cuisine ™ Red Curry Chicken & Jasmine Rice.” Each package bears the Canadian establishment number “Est. 302″ inside the Canadian Food Inspection Agency mark of inspection as well as a “Best By” date of “12 18 08.” The item number “2880″ also appears by the UPC code on the package.