Cheeses recalled in salmonella outbreak

MONTREAL, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- Officials in the Canadian province of Quebec have announced a recall of three cheese brands linked to one death and 87 salmonella cases.

The Quebec Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is warning against eating non-refined hard cheeses called La Chaudiere, Polo and Tradition produced by Fromages la Chaudiere of Lac-Megantic, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported Saturday.

In addition, all products of those brands produced between July 24 and Aug. 24 have been recalled for fear they might contain Salmonella enteritidis bacteria.

Dr. Horacio Arruda, director of public health for the province, said they were quickly able to isolate a cause of the salmonella outbreak -- possibly all from the same, unidentified plant.

"We immediately ordered a special study of the patients, as well as other individuals in the region who could have eaten the same food, in order to identify the cause," Arruda said at a news conference. "We found a similar genetic print in many of these cases."

The one death thus far was an elderly person in the Chaudiere-Appalaches region, said Arruda, adding that more illnesses are expected.