No local Listeria
Tuesday August 26 2008 An outbreak of the potentially fatal Listeria bacteria has the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Maple Leaf Consumer Food urging people not to eat products from a Toronto plant.
Listeriosis, a foodbourne illness, can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Pregnant woman, the elderly and people with immune deficiencies are particularly vulnerable. The outbreak has resulted in four deaths and 17 reported cases of illness.
There have been no local reports related to the outbreak, says Jan Craig, manager of communications for Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health.
Potentially contaminated products, sold under a variety of brand names, have been voluntarily recalled and the Toronto plant has been shut down for a thorough cleaning.
The recalled products can be identified by the establishment number — Est 97B — located near the best before or packed on date.
According to the Canada Food Inspection Agency, the products have been distributed nationally to retail stores and food service businesses.
For more information about the outbreak, visit www.inspection.gc.ca.

North Peel Media Group Newspapers: The Brampton Guardian Caledon Enterprise Independent & Free Press Orangeville Banner