A Winnipeg-based food manufacturer has recalled several meat products over fears they could be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Smith's Quality Meats and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency are warning the public not to eat certain ready-to-cook meats that have been distributed to retail and deli stores in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and northwestern Ontario.

Listeria is a harmful bacteria that can cause listeriosis, a food-borne illness. Symptoms can include high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea.

One of the stores that's been removing the recalled products from its shelves is Cantor's Grocery in downtown Winnipeg.

"You're dealing with people lives," the grocery's CEO, Edward Cantor, told CTV Winnipeg. "It's scary because it affects everything. People just get to shy away of meat."

People with weak immune systems, pregnant women and the elderly are most at risk from listeriosis. But according to the CFIA, there have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

"All cooked products are in the process of being removed from store shelves," said Smith's spokesperson Andy Van Patter in a press release.

"The discovery was made on one product at one location in Alberta through testing performed by our customer," Van Patter added. "There (is) no indication that other products are affected."

In 2008, a Listeria outbreak involving Maple Leaf Foods was linked to at least 20 deaths and led to the largest meat recall in Canadian history.

For more information about the Smith's meats recall, consumers can call:

• Smith's Quality Meats at 204-633-7054 (7:30 am to 4:00 pm CT, Monday to Friday)
• CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET, Monday to Friday)

The recalled products are printed with Establishment number 294 and a best-before date between 2010JN11 (June 11, 2010) and 2010SE03 (September 3, 2010), inclusive.