News Releases
Government Home Search Sitemap Contact Us  


April 1, 1998
(Health and Community Services)


The following statement was issued today by Joan Marie Aylward, Minister of Health and Community Services. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

Recalling Schneider Lunchmate Snack Products

I would like to inform the people of the province that the recent outbreak of Salmonella food poisoning has been traced to contaminated cheese in Schneider Lunchmate products. This confirms the suspicions of public health officials in this province as oulined in the notice to the public we distributed on March 27, 1998. As a result, J.M. Schneider Inc. of Kitchener, Ontario, announced yesterday, a recall for four of their lunch products. The organization is advising customers not to eat some of their snack products due to possible Salmonella contamination of a cheese ingredient. I would also like to remind consumers, at this time, that products with an expired "Best Before" date should not be consumed.

The recall list includes Schneider:

Lunchmate Chicken Soft Taco UPC Code 062000192758
Lunchmate Beef Taco UPC Code 062000192710
Lunchmate Two Cheese Pizza UPC Code 062000192833
Lunchmate Big Combo Beef Taco UPC Code 062000192598

Any of these products with a "Best Before" date between April 1 and May 17, 1998 should not be eaten.

Recent cases of Salmonella infection have been identified in all provinces across the country. During March there have been 27 cases of Salmonella infection identified throughout the province. Symptoms of Salmonella infection are flu-like including a sudden onset of diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fever, headache and sometimes vomiting. Sickness may set in from six to 72 hours after consuming a contaminated food. Salmonella is the most common cause of "food poisoning" and can cause serious illness. Food contaminated with this bacterium does not look, smell or taste spoiled. Consumers experiencing symptoms should contact their doctor.

J.M. Schneider Inc. has given notice that products listed should be returned to the place of purchase for a full refund. A consumer information line has been set up by that company to respond to concerns about the recall. Customers should call 1-800-221-2985.

We expect that cases may continue to surface in the province over the next few days in people who have already consumed contaminated products. We want to ensure that health inspectors will be monitoring retail outlets in the province today to ensure all remaining recall products are taken off the shelf.

We will continue to provide updated information to the public as it becomes available to us.

1998 04 01 3:25 p.m.

SearchHomeBack to GovernmentContact Us


All material copyright the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. No unauthorized copying or redeployment permitted. The Government assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of any material deployed on an unauthorized server.
Disclaimer/Copyright/Privacy Statement