Canada’s shell egg recall: Here’s a quick guide to spot potential salmonella contamination

Eggs sit at the farm of Roger Pelissero in West Lincoln, Ont., on March 7, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter Power (THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Less than a week after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) issued a national recall for several brands of shell eggs over potential salmonella contamination, the agency is ramping up its public awareness efforts.

On Tuesday, the CFIA released a step-by-step guide on Facebook, offering safety tips for Canadians on how to handle potentially affected products.

The recalled eggs include brands such as Compliments, Foremost, Golden Valley, IGA, Western Family, and No Name.

The CFIA advises consumers to carefully compare key product details such as “brand, product name, size, UPC, lot code, and the best-before date” listed in the recall notice.

If all the details match, the agency instructs that the eggs should be “thrown out or returned to the store where they were purchased.”

“Food contaminated with Salmonella may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick,” the CFIA warned, adding that those vulnerable include “young children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.”

According to Health Canada, symptoms of a salmonella infection usually start within six to 72 hours of exposure.

“Healthy people may experience short-term symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Long-term complications may include severe arthritis,” the recall notice said.

If you believe you’ve become infected with Salmonella, health officials say you should contact your health-care provider.