A public warning issued Wednesday has been updated. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Ivanhoe Cheese Inc. are warning the public not to consume various cheese products due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.

All sizes of the following cheese products bearing Best Before dates from 09 FE 20 to 09 MR 01 (February 20 to March 1, 2009) inclusive are affected by this alert. These products were sold from Aug. 20 up to and including Sept. 3.

Brand name: Iqbal's Halal.
Product name: Marble Cheese; Mild Cheddar Cheese; Pepper Cheese.

Brand name: Ivanhoe Cheese Inc.
Product name: Asiago Cheese; Baker's Blend Marble! Shredded Cheese; Brick Cheese; Cheddar Naturally Smoked; Colby Cheese; Cold Pack Cheese Food Old Sharpe Made with Aged Cheddar; Cold Pack Old Sharpe Made with Aged Cheddar Cheese; Extra Old Cheddar Cheese; Extra Old Cheddar Cheese Classic 2 years; Extra Old Cheddar Cheese Reserve 5 years; Extra Old Cheddar Cheese Vintage 3 years; Farmers Cheese; Feta Cheese; Firm Interior Ripened Cheese Light; Gouda Cheese; Havarti Cheese; Havarti Pepper Cheese; Havarti Tomato Cheese; Horseradish Cheddar Cheese; Light Cheese; Marble Brick and Cheddar Cheese; Marble Cheese; Medium Cheddar Cheese; Mild & Old Cheddar Cheese; Mild Cheddar Cheese; Monterey Jack Cheese with Jalapeno & Red Bell Peppers; Mozzarella Cheese; Old Cheddar Cheese; Parmesan Cheese; Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese; Salsa Monterey Jack & Cheddar Cheese with Salsa Seasoning; Skim Milk Cheese; Swiss Cheese

These products have been distributed in Ontario to retail stores and may also be sold at deli counters. If the original product identity and Best Before code is not evident, consumers are advised to check with their retailer to determine if the product is included in the list of recalled products.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with this bacteria may cause listeriosis, a foodborne illness. Listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea.

Pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk. Infected pregnant women may experience only a mild, flu-like illness, however, infections during pregnancy can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or even stillbirth.

The manufacturer, Ivanhoe Cheese Inc., Madoc, ON, is voluntarily recalling the affected products from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

For more information, consumers and industry can call one of the following numbers: Ivanhoe Consumer Hotline at 1-888-473-4269; 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).

For information on Listeria monocytogenes, visit the Food Facts web page at http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/concen/causee.shtml.

For information on receiving recalls by e-mail, or for other food safety facts, visit our web site at www.inspection.gc.ca.

QUICK FACTS

     -   The average age of confirmed cases is 77.
     -   Almost all confirmed cases with complete information live in an
         institution or were hospitalized prior to the onset of the illness.
         Two confirmed cases were not hospitalized or in an institution prior
         to the onset of the illness, and a small number of confirmed cases
         have information pending.
     -   The incubation period for Listeriosis is from three to 70 days with
         an average incubation period of three weeks.
     -   Listeriosis is a reportable disease under Ontario Regulation 569 of
         the Health Protection and Promotion Act.