Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook Health Canada says a brand of frozen mixed berries is being recalled because of possible salmonella contamination. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says Hain Celestial Canada, ULC is recalling Europe’s Best brand Field Berry Mixes. READ MORE: Ikea Canada recalls water dispenser for pets after dogs suffocate It says the recall was triggered by a recall in another country, but no illnesses associated with the product have been reported. It says the brand’s 600 gram bags of Field Berry Mix and 2 kilogram bags of 4-Field Berry Mix are affected. READ MORE: Lighter recalls in Canada expand — 52,000 from Canadian Tire now fail safety check The agency says it’s conducting a food safety investigation. Advertisement<doc-sep>Millions of Canadians who rely on a common heart drug are being asked to check with their pharmacist after Health Canada announced the drug may be contaminated by a carcinogen. Health Canada said Tuesday that numerous varieties of valsartan, a generic drug sold by several companies in Canada, are being recalled over fears they are contaminated with N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), a chemical that’s been classified as a probable human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. In a public advisory, Health Canada said Chinese company Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceuticals supplied the valsartan to several companies that used it to make the finished product. Health Canada first learned of the problem on June 27, but had to contact drug manufacturers and determine the scope of the problem before issuing a public advisory, a spokesperson said on Tuesday. Story continues below advertisement Valsartan is primarily used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure or for patients who have recently had a heart attack. There were more than 2.5 million prescriptions for the drugs involved in the recall dispensed in Canada last year, according to IQVIA, a company that tracks the pharmaceutical industry. That represents more than half of the total 4.4 million prescriptions dispensed for valsartan drugs in Canada, according to the IQVIA data. The European Medicines Agency made a similar announcement last week. According to an EMA press release, the presence of NDMA “is thought to be related to changes in the way the active substance was manufactured.” It’s unclear whether the recall will lead to a shortage of valsartan. There are companies in Canada that produce valsartan not affected by the recall, but a major portion of the drug supply was affected by the news, said Iris Krawchenko, senior pharmacist adviser with the Canadian Pharmacists Association. Drug shortages have become an all-too-familiar occurrence in Canada in recent years, she said, posing challenges to pharmacists and patients who need access to the right medication. “This is an unfortunate recall that can affect many patients in Canada,” Ms. Krawchenko said. “Regrettably and unfortunately, pharmacists deal with these sorts of shortages and recalls all too often.” A June report from the C.D. Howe Institute found that about one in 10 drugs have been affected by shortages in recent years. Drug companies often cite problems with raw ingredients as the reason for the shortages. Jacalyn Duffin, one of the authors of the report and a professor emerita at Queen’s University, said Canadians know very little about where drug ingredients come from and don’t get enough advance warning about pending shortages. Story continues below advertisement “We keep getting blindsided by products disappearing for one reason or another,” she said. “We’re always scrambling to try and find the substitutes for them.” Health Canada is advising Canadians taking any valsartan drug to contact their pharmacist and health-care provider to determine what steps to take. For a list of all drugs contained in the recall, check the recall and safety alert website.<doc-sep>Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook Ikea Canada is recalling a water dispenser for pets over suffocation hazards. The company has received two reports of dogs whose heads became stuck in the dispenser and eventually suffocated. READ MORE: 375K Home Hardware lighters pose fire, burn risk The LURVIG water dispenser is sold globally. Between October 2017 and July 2018, 7,767 products were sold in Canada. In a press release, Ikea said it was “deeply saddened” by the incidents. The company advised customers to stop using the water dispensers immediately. READ MORE: PC Organics, Love Child Organics baby food recalled in Canada Customers can return the products at the returns counter within Ikea stores, or call the company at 1-800-661-9807 for a refund. Story continues below advertisement They do not need to provide a receipt or proof of purchase.<doc-sep>
Send this page to someone via email Health Canada has issued a second recall for lighters within days, saying they’ve failed to meet safety regulations. READ MORE: 375K Home Hardware lighters pose fire, burn risk The latest recall applies to 52,596 MASTER Chef BBQ Igniter lighters from Canadian Tire. The products have an adjustable flame height and are 285 millimetres long with a grey handle and black barrel. They come with the product number 076-2044 and a date of manufacture listed as “2016/02/01.” Here is a closer look at the product: These refillable lighters were sold between May 2016 and June 2018, according to the alert. Story continues below advertisement While there have not been any reported injuries from these lighters, Health Canada explained that the products fail to meet Lighters Regulations in Canada and can pose a fire or burn risk. WATCH: Recent recall alerts in Canada Health Canada outlined the following risks: the flame of the lighters may be longer than allowed, it might also have “abnormal, sudden increases in height” and continue to burn after the trigger has been released. READ MORE: 40,000 smoke alarms that may not detect smoke recalled in Canada This is the second recall issued for lighters that failed to meet these standards within one week. On Monday, Health Canada issued a recall for 375,464 multi-purpose lighters from Home Hardware. Story continues below advertisement View image in full screen Health Canada The model number for the affected product is #BBQ- 2600CR-ETC with UPC 822733191127. The product also comes with an item number 6311-056 on the package, and 63311-056 on the lighter itself. Lighters Regulations in Canada Lighters that are sold in Canada have to meet a series of rules, as per the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act. In an email to Global News, Health Canada explained that the increase in lighter recalls is due to some testing. “Health Canada’s Consumer Product Safety Program is undertaking an enforcement project to sample and test lighters to verify compliance with the Lighters Regulations,” a statement read. It added that the testing is part of Health Canada’s “cyclical enforcement approach to consumer product safety,” which helps make sure all products sold comply to safety and other standards. Story continues below advertisement At the end of the testing period a full consumer report will be issued, the statement said.