Listeria-linked recall list lengthens
29.08.2008 12:02
Health
- Source: cbc.ca
The list of recalled meat products possibly tainted with listeria at a Maple Leaf Foods plant swelled Friday, a day after the number of deaths in the outbreak jumped to eight. Six separate recall lists were posted on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's website, mostly for products sold in Ontario but including some products from every province. Health officials said Thursday that the listeriosis outbreak linked to a plant in Toronto has killed at least eight people, all in Ontario. Seven other deaths — four in Ontario, and one each in Quebec, B.C. and Saskatchewan — are under investigation to see if listeriosis was the underlying or contributing cause. As of Thursday, a total of 29 cases had been linked to the outbreak and 36 others remained under investigation. Questions raised about food safetyCanada's public health agency makes it clear that those most at risk from listeriosis are newborns, the elderly, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems. But a food expert is questioning why Health Canada doesn't do a better job of informing people at risk of the ongoing dangers of listeria. Since 2005, the federal health agency has cautioned that at-risk individuals should avoid eating non-dried deli meats. All the people who died of listeriosis were living at long-term-care facilities, but some seniors' homes seemed unaware of the health recommendation. Officials at Stirling Manor Nursing Home, located in the southern Ontario community of Stirling, say they were unaware of any such suggestion. Even now, home administrator Charmaine Jordan said that while Maple Leaf meats were pulled from the menu, other deli meats are still being consumed. The Ontario Association of Non-Profit Homes and Services for Seniors, an umbrella group, was also unaware of the recommendation. "We've contacted dietitians that have long-standing experience in our homes and they've never been warned about listeriosis or deli meats being a huge issue or that they should be avoided," said association executive director Donna Rubin. Ottawa needs to be more aggressive: expertIt's a problem one food safety expert says the government must address. "The Canadian government needs to be a little more aggressive in informing Canadians of the risks associated with refrigerated ready-to-eat foods like deli meats," said Doug Powell of the International Food Safety Network. He suggests that warning labels on products may be the solution. However, an Ontario Health Ministry spokesman said it has no specific policy against serving sliced meats in nursing homes, and Health Canada officials said banning certain foods from seniors' homes is not in its jurisdiction. "The provinces and territories require staff in these institutions to have a standard level of knowledge about food-borne illnesses such as listeria," said Dr. Jeff Farber of Health Canada. He said that advice from the federal health agency should be considered information, not a warning. Symptoms of listeriosis — which include high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea — can occur up to 70 days after consuming contaminated food, though the average incubation period is 30 days, the federal food agency said. Public health and Maple Leaf Foods officials have said the source of the contamination may never be determined, since listeria is widespread and commonly found in the environment, including in soil and in water. Story Tools: E-MAIL | PRINT | Text Size: SMLXL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACKRelatedInternal Links8 people now dead because of listeriosis: health officialFood SafetyListeria FAQsListeriosis symptomsYour Interview: Dr. Allison McGeer takes questions on the outbreakMeat recall timelineMaple Leaf Foods factsCrisis management: Maple Leaf Foods' handling of the Listeria outbreakNewsProduct recall list grows over listeria concerns (Aug. 28)Ont. urges family doctors to save blood tests for listeriosis patientsFuneral to be held for suspected listeriosis victim as recall widens (Aug. 28)Federal inspectors not at fault for listeriosis outbreak: agriculture minister (Aug. 27)Food safety agency allowing producers to police themselves: ex-inspector (Aug. 27)More legal actions begin against Maple Leaf Foods (Aug. 27)Class action lawsuit launched over listeria outbreak (Aug. 26)AlbertaTests pending in 4 Alberta listeriosis cases (Aug. 26)ManitobaListeriosis case in Manitoba linked to outbreakBritish ColumbiaRecalled meats pulled from B.C. Safeway stores: spokesman (Aug. 26)OntarioNo plans to change Ontario meat inspection: minister (Aug. 28)QuebecListeria found in 2 Quebec cheeses (Aug. 27)SaskatchewanSaskatchewan reports first death linked to listeriosisCFIA recall listsAbout 220 ready-to-eat deli meatsShopsy's Classic Reuben sandwich sold in Toronto storesSafeway and TakeAwayCaf brands sold at Safeway and Mac's in Alta. and Sask.Fresh 2 Go sandwiches sold at A&P and Dominion in Ont.Irving, Sub Delicious and Needs sandwiches sold in N.B., N.S. and P.E.I.Kirkland Signature platters sold in Costco stores across CanadaHam and salami sandwiches sold at Sobeys, Foodland and IGA in Ont.Oven roasted turkey breast at 2 White House Meats locations in Toronto3 products sold in Delta, Ont.Big Glen Sandwiches sold in vending machines in Eastern Ont.Products sold at various stores in Ont. and Que.Ready-to-eat deli meat products sold across CanadaHealth HeadlinesListeria-linked recall list lengthensThe list of recalled meat products possibly tainted with listeria at a Maple Leaf Foods plant swelled Friday, a day after the number of deaths in the outbreak jumped to eight.Ont. urges family doctors to save blood tests for listeriosis patientsOntario's public health lab reached out to doctors in a mass e-mail Thursday, asking them to just say no to people who want blood tests for listeriosis even though they show no symptoms.Brains of stroke survivors show improvements from exercise People who have suffered a stroke may benefit from walking on a treadmill years after the brain injury, according to researchers who saw signs of the brain healing itself. 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