Grocery stores, restaurants and health care providers are being cautioned about using recalled Maple Leaf meat products by Yukon Environmental Health Services.

The warning comes in light of a Health Hazard Alert issued by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Maple Leaf Consumer Foods.

The health hazard warns the public against consuming ready-to-eat Maple Leaf deli meat products bearing an "Est. # 97B" because these products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

These products include sliced cooked turkey breast, sure slice roast beef, sure slice corned beef, sure slice salami, sure slice smoked ham, and Schneiders deli shaved meats.

A complete list of recalled products is available at the Maple Leaf Foods website, www.mapleleaf.com.

These products have been distributed nationally, primarily to food service institutions such as restaurants, hospitals and nursing homes. In addition, these products are also sold at retail and deli counters.

A number of the affected products described above are part of a Listeriosis outbreak investigation. The investigation is ongoing and no direct link has been made between the affected products and human illness.

Yukon Environmental Health Services has been in contact with the city's larger local grocery stores.

Some local businesses, such as the Super A stores, Super Valu, Riverside Grocery and the Subway sandwich shops, told the Star this morning they do not carry the recalled products.

A spokesperson for the Real Canadian Superstore in Whitehorse couldn't be reached to comment.

Pat Living, a Department of Health and Social Services spokeswoman, said the scale of the products' distribution warrants caution nonetheless.

A spokesperson for Extra Foods said early this afternoon the store carries some Maple Leaf products, but none of the recalled meats.

Colleen Hemsley, the Yukon's communicable disease officer, said today notices were being sent to health care providers, including physicians and community health nurses, advising of the symptoms to look for in those who may have consumed the product.

The public may call Yukon Communicable Disease Control 667-8323 for further information during the day. However, anyone severely ill should contact his or her local health centre or Whitehorse General Hospital.

Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled.

Consumption of contaminated food may cause listeriosis, which can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea.

Pregnant women, newborns, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk.

Infected pregnant women may experience only a mild, flu-like illness, but infections during pregnancy can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or even stillbirth.

The manufacturer, Maple Leaf Consumer Foods, located in Burlington, Ont., is voluntarily recalling the affected products from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.