Maple Leaf stresses food safety as role of federal inspectors debated
22.08.2008 16:02
Health
- Source: cbc.ca
There is "no definitive link" between a Maple Leaf Foods meat plant in Toronto and a nationwide outbreak of listeriosis that has killed two women and may be responsible for four more deaths, the company's president told consumers on Friday. In an open letter published Friday, Michael McCain stressed the steps the company has taken, including a voluntary recall of 23 meat products. Sterilization efforts continue at the plant, which closed on Wednesday and is expected to reopen on Monday. Meat recallBrand names for the recalled Maple Leaf Foods products include Schneiders, Sure Slice, Deli Gourmet and Burns Bites. A complete list of affected products is available on both the Maple Leaf Foods website and that of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. A number of the recalled products from the Toronto plant are part of the investigation into the outbreak because they tested positive for listeria bacteria, Canadian Food Inspection Agency official Garfield Balsom said. The agency is waiting for definitive test results to see whether the bacteria are from the same strain as the one responsible for the outbreak, said Dr. David Williams, Ontario's acting chief medical officer of health. The Maple Leaf meats are distributed to nursing homes, restaurants and deli counters across the country — including McDonald's and Mr. Sub. More deaths investigatedOf the 17 outbreak cases that were confirmed across Canada, 13 are in Ontario — including the deaths of an elderly woman in Hamilton and another in Waterloo — while two are in B.C. and one each in Saskatchewan and Quebec. On Thursday, health officials in Ontario announced they were investigating whether four more deaths, including the demise of an elderly resident in Peterborough, and 17 more cases of people falling sick were connected to the listeriosis outbreak. Health officials are advising people not to eat deli meat if they are not sure where it came from. Food inspectorsMeanwhile, talk of the federal government transferring food inspection powers to the industry came under fire from the opposition and agriculture experts. More than 3,000 employees with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency monitor the country's food supply. Speaking to reporters in Ottawa, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz suggested the Tories want companies to play a greater role in inspecting their own products, to free up government inspectors to take on a supervisory role. "We think we'll have far better oversight and tend to catch these types of things in a proactive way, as opposed to being forced to react like we are today," Ritz said, noting that his government has hired 200 more inspectors. Liberal Leader Stphane Dion told reporters in Toronto the Tories backing the plan are the same ones who were at the helm of Ontario's Conservative government during the tainted-water crisis in Walkerton, Ont., in 2000, which left seven dead and more than 2,000 seriously ill. Story Tools: E-MAIL | PRINT | Text Size: SMLXL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACKRelatedInternal LinksLiberals blast Tory call for decreased government role in food inspectionHealth officials probe more deaths, advise tossing suspect meat IN DEPTH: Listeria FAQsListeria outbreak hits B.C. health-care facilities Video Maureen Taylor reports: Another listeriosis death confirmed (Runs: 1:56)Play: Real Media »Play: QuickTime »Health HeadlinesJump in U.S. measles cases linked to vaccine fearsMeasles cases in the U.S. are at the highest level in more than a decade, with nearly half of those involving children whose parents rejected vaccination, health officials said. Maple Leaf stresses food safety as role of federal inspectors debatedThere is "no definitive link" between a nationwide outbreak of listeriosis that may be responsible for five deaths and a Maple Leaf Foods plant in Toronto, the company's president told consumers on Friday.Health Canada warns against two natural health productsHealth Canada is warning consumers not to use two unauthorized natural health products because they are not approved by its department and may cause serious negative health problems that could result in death.Despite expanding diagnostic imaging, Canada lags behind other developed countriesCanada has significantly boosted its supply of diagnostic scanners since 2003 but the number still lags behind other developed countries.Lettuce, spinach can be zapped with radiation to kill germs: U.S. rulingAmerican food producers will soon be allowed to expose fresh spinach and iceberg lettuce with low levels of radiation in order to kill E. coli and other potentially dangerous germs. Health FeaturesIN DEPTHFood safetyFrequently asked questions about listeriaASTHMABoys vs. girlsNew thinking about the disease in youngstersFOODHealthy barbecueAudio: Dr. Peter Lin on reducing cancer risks (6:35)IN DEPTHMental healthCanadians earn failing grade for attitudeIN DEPTHWest Nile  HEALTHMemorySurprising things that affect itPeople who read this also read …
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