Health

Listeria death toll rises to 12

by julianw | August 26, 2008 at 08:49 am

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As Vinny reported in a comment yesterday, a total of twelve people have died from eating Listeria-tainted meat produced at a Toronto plant of Maple Leaf Food Inc. Maple Leaf is trying to recall 220 meat products made at the contaminated plant.

Canada has confirmed 26 cases of food poisoning including 12 deaths linked deli meats contaminated with Listeria. The products of concern were produced at a plant of Maple Leaf Food Inc. Reuters cited Canadian health officials as saying Monday.

Another 29 cases are waiting to be confirmed and more cases are expected in coming days, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz was cited as saying.

Maple Leaf Foods, one of Canada's biggest meat processors, have voluntarily recalled about 220 products produced at the plant, which is worth about $19 million.

The company said Tuesday it hoped to reopen the Toronto facility shut off due to the outbreak, but health officials said all meat produced there will be subject to testing to make sure it's free of contamination before being released.

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Yuliya Talmazan

at 10:20 on August 26th, 2008

I was surprised the CEO of Maple Leaf actually apologized on national television yesterday. It is all about projecting a good image in any circumstances.