OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Sep 1, 2013) - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Phoenicia Group Inc. are warning the public, food service establishments, and retailers, not to consume, serve, use, or sell the Tahini products described below because they may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The following Tahini products, sold commencing February 1, 2013 with no lot code indicated on the package, are affected by this alert. This alert does not include Cedar brand Tahini products where a lot code appears on the package.

Some of the affected products were sold in bulk and may have been repacked at retail. Consumers who cannot determine the original product identity are advised to check with their retailer to determine if they have one of the affected products.

These products have been distributed in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. These products may have been distributed in other provinces.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

Food contaminated with Salmonella may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with these bacteria may cause salmonellosis, a foodborne illness. In young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems, salmonellosis may cause serious and sometimes deadly infections. In otherwise healthy people, salmonellosis may cause short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. Long-term complications may include severe arthritis.

The distributor, Phoenicia Group Inc., St-Laurent, Quebec, is voluntarily recalling the affected products from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

For more information, consumers and industry can contact the CFIA by filling out the online feedback form at http://www.inspection.gc.ca/contactus.

For more information on foodborne pathogens, visit the Causes of Food Poisoning web page at: http://inspection.gc.ca/food_poisoning.

For information on all food recalls, visit the CFIA's Food Recall Report at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/recalls.

To find out more about receiving recalls by e-mail, and other food safety facts, visit: www.foodsafety.gc.ca. Food and consumer product recalls are also available at http://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca.