The Public Health Agency of Canada has released a notice including information about warnings related to the link between the outbreak of E. coli infections and a number of flours/flour products.
The Public Health Notice has listed the contaminated products
The Public Health Agency of Canada in collaboration with more provincial and federal health partners have investigated on outbreak of Escherichia coli that has been linked to various Ardent Mills flours and flour products.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has issued a warning and advises Canadians not to consume any flour or flour product included in the notice, as they might be contaminated with the harmful bacteria. The updated warning includes brand names such as Brodie, Creative Baker, Golden Temple, and Robin Hood, all belonging to the producer Ardent Mills.
It is possible that more products are going to be linked to the outbreak, as the investigation is ongoing and CFIA is continuing products’ analysis. For more details regarding product brand names and lot codes, you’re advised to consult CFIA’s recall notice.
- E. coli symptoms and complications
Anyone can get an E. coli infection, but the ones exposed the most include the following categories: pregnant women, young children, older adults, and people with a compromised immunity. E. coli bacteria can lead to serious health complications.
A patient infected with E. coli can have a wide range of symptoms, but the most frequent ones include the following:
- Watery/bloody diarrhea
- Severe stomach cramps
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Little or no fever
- Headache
Most of the symptoms will clear up within 5-10 days without the need to visit a professional. However, in some cases, patients might develop life-threatening complications such as: seizures, stroke, and kidney failure. Death is also possible in extremely rare cases.
CFIA and the Government of Canada will continue to keep Canadians posted and updated with any new information from the ongoing investigation regarding the source of the E. coli outbreak.
