The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning the public about a number of refrigerated smoked sockeye salmon products that may be contaminated with Listeria.

The products, which were sold refrigerated in various weights from Feb. 16-24, include:

  • Salmon Lox Trim Classic, sold at Whole Foods Market (925 Main St., West Vancouver) UPC begins with 0297629, packed on Feb. 17-19.
  • Salmon Lox Trim Classic, sold at Whole Foods Market (510 W. 8th Ave. in Vancouver). UPC begins with 0297629, packed on Feb. 18, 19.
  • Lox Trim, sold at The Salmon Shop (112-1689 Johnson St. in Vancouver). UPC begins with 203780, packed on Feb. 17-22.
  • Unlabelled products, sold at The Daily Catch Seafood Company (1418 Commercial Dr. in Vancouver). No UPC codes or packing dates.

The salmon may also have been sold unlabelled at the stores listed. Consumers unsure whether they have the affected products are advised to check with their retailer.

Listeria-contaminated foods may not look or smell spoiled, but the bacteria can cause listeriosis, with symptoms including high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea.

The alert was issued shortly before the release of a University of British Columbia study that found Listeria bacteria in a number of ready-to-eat fish products in Metro Vancouver.

Food microbiologist Kevin Allen test 40 fish samples, purchased from seven chain stores and 10 smaller retailers, prior to their "best before" date and found 20 per cent contained Listeria.

Of those, five per cent had the more virulent variety of Listeria monocytogenes, including one strain that Allen described "very disconcerting."

"It was identical, based on testing we did, to the strain that caused the 2008 listeriosis outbreak," Allen said.

Twenty Canadians died and dozens more fell ill during the deadly nationwide outbreak.

The Listeria monocytogene levels found in Metro Vancouver met federal guidelines, Allen said, but the bacteria can multiply during handling and storage, especially towards the end of the "best before" date.

The government allows 100 Listeria cells per gram.

"It's the high risk populations that we have to be concerned with. An average healthy adults can actually consume fairly large amounts of Listeria monocytogenes," Allen said.

Pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are most prone to adverse reactions, even death. Infections in expecting mothers can also lead to premature delivery, stillbirth or infection of the newborn.

Meat purchased from the same Metro Vancouver retailers surveyed in the UBC study, including bologna, corned beef, cooked ham and pepperoni, tested negative for the bacteria.

Consumers can get more information by calling the CFIA at 1-800-442-2342.

With a report from CTV British Columbia's Peter Grainger