|
From CTVbc.ca --
One person is dead and at least seventeen people are sick -- two of them from British Columbia -- after meat from one of Canada's largest meat-packing companies was contaminated.
Maple Leaf Foods is shutting down its Toronto plant and is recalling nearly two dozen packaged, ready-to-eat products that health officials are investigating as the possible source of potentially deadly listeria bacteria.
The Public Health Agency of Canada has confirmed that one person in Ontario has died from the strain of listeriosis. Seventeen other cases of listeriosis have been confirmed: 13 in Ontario, two in B.C. and one each in Saskatchewan and Quebec.
* Related: Read the full list of affected products here
But there are 16 more suspected, but unconfirmed cases in Ontario.
Exposure to the listeria bacteria can lead to listeriosis, particularly in the elderly, the very young, pregnant women or those with weakened immune systems.
Symptoms of listeriosis include nausea, vomiting, cramps and fever.
"I strongly advise the public, especially those at high risk for listeriosis, such as the elderly, pregnant women and those with weak immune systems, to make sure they avoid consuming these products," Dr. David C. Williams, Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health, said in a statement. "I have also asked all public health units to advise emergency rooms in their jurisdictions to be on alert for cases."
Though listeria has not been found in all of the 23 products now on recall, the company is recalling items that share a production line with the tainted meats.
"We have taken a much broader approach to the recall than the actual testing has indicated we need to," Maple Leaf representative Linda Smith told CTV Toronto.
The cause of the outbreak remains unknown and a link has not been made between the affected products and any human illness.
"We'll work until we can find the source or until the outbreak is completed," Canadian Food Inspection Agency recall officer Garfield Balsom told CTV Newsnet.
On Sunday, Maple Leaf issued a recall of its Sure Slice roast beef and corn beef products, which are produced at the Toronto plant, after they tested positive for low levels of listeria.
The products that are part of the recall have been distributed to nursing homes, delis and restaurants across Canada, including McDonald's and Mr. Sub.
McDonald's has temporarily removed its turkey BLT sandwich from its menu while the investigation into the cause of the bacteria outbreak continues.
However, Balsom said the recalled meats should all have been removed from sale by mid-afternoon Wednesday.
"Food that's contaminated with listeria doesn't always look like it's spoiled and the bacteria can also proliferate when it's in the fridge," said Dr. Vinita Dubey of Toronto Public Health. "So it's important for individuals to make sure they heat their food, especially cold cuts and deli meats, properly."
The recalled products were produced from June 2 onward.
The 23 products have an establishment number of 97B and have best before dates ranging from Sept. 30 to Jan. 1, 2009.
With files from CTV Toronto's Galit Solomon and The Canadian Press
The complete list of affected products, including individual product codes and best-before dates, is as follows:
26365, Sliced Cooked Turkey Breast, 470 grams, Sept. 30;
02106, Schneiders Bavarian Smokies, 1 kilogram, Oct. 28;
02126, Schneiders Cheddar Smokies, 1 kilogram, Oct. 28;
21333, Sure Slice Roast Beef, 1 kilogram, Sept. 30;
21388, Sure Slice Combo Pack, 1 kilogram, Sept. 30;
60243, Deli Gourmet Roast Beef slices, 1 kilogram, Sept. 30;
02356, Seasoned Cooked Roast Beef, 500 grams, Oct. 7;
42706, Roast Beef, Seasoned and Cooked, 500 grams, Oct. 7;
21334, Sure Slice Turkey Breast Roast, 1 kilogram, Oct. 14;
21444, Sure Slice Corned Beef, 1 kilogram, Oct. 14;
44938, Montreal Style Corned Beef, 500 grams, Oct. 14;
21440, Sure Slice Black Forest Style Ham, 1 kilogram, Oct. 21;
21447, Sure Slice Salami, 1 kilogram, Oct. 21;
21331, Sure Slice Smoked Ham, 1 kilogram, Oct. 21;
48019, Schneiders Deli Shaved Corned Beef, 200 grams, Oct. 21;
48020, Schneiders Deli Shaved Smoked Meat, 200 grams, Oct. 21;
48016, Schneiders Deli Shaved Smoked Ham , 200 grams, Oct. 21;
48018, Schneiders Deli Shaved Smoked Turkey Breast, 150 grams, Oct. 21;
48017, Schneiders Deli Shaved Fully Cooked Smoked Honey Ham, 200 grams, Oct. 21;
21360, Burns Bites Pepperoni, 500 grams, Jan. 21, 2009;
99158, Turkey Breast Roast, 1 kilogram, Sept. 30;
71330, Roast Beef Cooked, Seasoned, 2.5 kilograms, Sept. 30;
71331 Corned Beef, Smoked Meat, 2.5 kilograms, Sept. 30.
|
