OTTAWA, March 25, 2004 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Price Chopper stores in Atlantic Canada are warning the public not to consume store packaged Price Chopper brand Meatballs described below because the product is not a cooked product and may contain harmful bacteria that may cause food illnesses.

The affected product is labelled with a Price Chopper store pricing sticker which identifies the product with one of the following names: MEATBALLS, BEEF MEATBALLS, COOKED MEATBALLS, ITALIAN MEATBALLS. This frozen product is packaged in the Price Chopper stores in variable weight packages, a styrofoam tray with a plastic stretch over wrap, and bears a UPC which may differ from store to store.

The Price Chopper Stores in Atlantic Canada are voluntarily recalling the affected product from the marketplace. The affected product has been distributed in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland. Consumers who purchased the product can return it to the nearest Price Chopper store. The product should not be consumed.

Food contaminated with harmful bacteria that may cause food illnesses will not look or smell spoiled. Consumers are reminded that all ground beef products should be properly handled and cooked to an internal temperature of 71 degrees C or 160 degrees F. There has been one reported illness associated with the consumption of this product.

The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.
For more information, consumers and industry can call one of the following numbers:
Price Chopper Stores in Atlantic Canada at 1-888-944-0442, or
CFIA at 1-800-442-2342. 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time - Monday to Friday.