Canada-wide recall issued for chicken and mushroom pasta dish over listeria concerns

A nationwide recall has been issued for Rana brand’s Tagliatelle Seasoned White Chicken & Mushroom Sauce due to potential listeria contamination.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has warned consumers not to use, sell, serve, or distribute the recalled product. This ready-to-serve pasta dish is available at several major grocery chains across Canada, including Costco, Walmart, and Loblaws retailers such as Real Canadian Superstore and No Frills.

The affected packages weigh 1.14 kg and have best-before dates ranging from October 10 to November 16. The CFIA confirmed the recall in Canada was triggered by a similar recall in another country.

There have been no reported illnesses linked to the recalled product so far, but the agency advises consumers to discard the product or return it to the store.

The CFIA cautions that food contaminated with *Listeria monocytogenes* may not appear spoiled but can still cause illness, particularly in pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems. Symptoms of listeriosis include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle pain, severe headaches, and neck stiffness.

The agency urges anyone experiencing symptoms after consuming the recalled product to seek medical attention. Additional details are available on the CFIA website.

What is Listeria?

Listeria is a bacterium commonly found in soil, sewage, and untreated water. It can contaminate a wide range of foods, including meat, seafood, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products.

How Does Listeria Get into Food?

Listeria can contaminate produce if crops are irrigated with contaminated water or fertilized with manure-based fertilizers containing the bacteria.

Health Canada explains that food manufacturing facilities can also spread Listeria through contaminated water, ingredients, or insufficiently sanitized surfaces and equipment.

Lori Burrows, a microbiologist at McMaster University, notes that if food-processing equipment isn’t properly disinfected, the bacteria can transfer to food products.

What is Listeriosis?

Listeriosis is an infection caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated with Listeria. The illness can also pass from mother to child during pregnancy. Although transmission between people is rare, it can spread through contact with infected animals.

Symptoms and Risks

Common symptoms of listeriosis include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle pain, severe headaches, and neck stiffness. Severe symptoms can appear up to 70 days after exposure and, in some cases, the infection can be life-threatening.

Those most at risk of complications include individuals with weakened immune systems, adults over 60, and pregnant women. The infection can also affect the fetus or newborn during pregnancy, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.