ARCHIVED - Food Safety Investigation Salmonella braenderup in imported fresh mangoes
This page has been archived
Information identified as archived is provided for reference, research or record-keeping purposes. It is not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards and has not been altered or updated since it was archived. Please contact us to request a format other than those available.
As part of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's (CFIA) commitment to the continual improvement of Canada's food safety system and increased transparency, the CFIA reports on food safety incidents that have caused serious illnesses in Canada or have otherwise significant interest to the Canadian public.
This report provides a summary of the CFIA food safety investigation and recall activities that followed the notification of Salmonella braenderup illnesses associated with the consumption of certain imported fresh mangoes and products containing mangoes.
Background
On August 22, 2012, the CFIA was notified by the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) of an outbreak of Salmonella braenderup illnesses potentially linked to fresh mangoes and products containing mangoes. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) activated an Outbreak Investigation Coordination Committee (OICC) to coordinate information sharing among Canadian and American partners involved in the collaborative investigation.
On the same day, the CFIA initiated a food safety investigation and trace back activities to determine the source of the suspect mangoes, determine the extent of the problem, identify possible products at risk and take the necessary measures to protect the public.
Between August 24 and 27, 2012, the CFIA in collaboration with the importer, North American Produce Sales, Vancouver, B.C., issued several health hazard alerts to advise the public not to consume certain imported fresh mangoes because they may be contaminated with Salmonella braenderup bacteria.
Between August 28 and September 2, 2012, the CFIA in collaboration with various importers, manufacturers and retailers issued seven additional health hazard alerts to advise the public not to consume certain mangoes or specific products containing mangoes because they may be contaminated with Salmonella braenderup bacteria.
On September 28, 2012, at the time the OICC activities concluded, a total of 23 illnesses in Canada and 136 illnesses in the U.S. were reported to be linked to this outbreak.
CFIA Activities
The CFIA conducted a food safety investigation at the importer, North American Produce Sales, and collected import and inspection data.
At the onset of the food safety investigation, specific product lot code information was not available on the suspect imported fresh mangoes to confirm the source of the outbreak and take necessary recall actions. The CFIA immediately launched tracing activities to determine the affected lots of mangoes that were in distribution during the time of the reported illnesses.
Based on food safety investigation findings from the CFIA and epidemiological information provided by PHAC, Health Canada conducted a Health Risk Assessment of the identified mango products and determined that the products posed a Health Risk 1 (high risk) to the consumers. Recall actions were taken immediately by the importer on August 24, 2012.
The CFIA immediately contacted the U.S. regulatory authorities to assist in the product traceback activities for the imported fresh mangoes Products were reported to have been shipped from California and originating from Mexico.
Following the August 24 recall in Canada, clients of the U.S. mango distributor initiated public recalls of other mango lots on August 27, 2012. Some of these lots had been shipped to Canada. Consequently, between August 28 and September 2, 2012, the CFIA in collaboration with various importers, manufacturers and retailers, issued seven health hazard alerts to advise the public not to consume certain mangoes and specified mango containing products because they may be contaminated with Salmonella braenderup bacteria.
Findings
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration trace back investigation focussed on the U.S. distribution chain and the Mexican supplier and packing house system. The U.S. government identified a common supplier of mangoes for the majority of the reported cases and concluded that the bacterial contamination most likely occurred in Mexico prior to export.
Related Public Advisories
Food Safety Investigation: Salmonella in certain mangoes
Additional Information
Health Canada Factsheet on Salmonella and Salmonellosis
- Date modified: