2008 Canadian listeriosis outbreak

Infobox civilian attack
title=2008 Canadian listeriosis outbreak

---

caption=A meat recall notice placed in the deli section of a grocery store
location=Canada
date= August 2008 to present
fatalities=20 confirmed; 6 under investigationcite news | url = http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/alert-alerte/listeria/listeria_2008-eng.php | title = Listeria monocytogenes outbreak | publisher = CFIA | date = 2008-10-08 | accessdate = 2008-10-09]
injuries=53 cases confirmed

The 2008 Canadian listeriosis outbreak is an ongoing widespread outbreak of listeriosis in Canada linked to a Maple Leaf Foods plant in Toronto, Ontario. As of October 8, 2008, 20 people have died in connection with "Listeria monocytogenes", 6 deaths are under review, with 53 total confirmed cases . Because symptoms of listeriosis may not appear for up to 70 days, the number of cases is expected to rise over the coming weeks. Those most vulnerable to the outbreak include infants, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems. [cite news
url = http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/08/21/f-listeria-faqs.html
title = Listeria FAQs
publisher = Canadian Broadcasting Corporation | date = 2008-08-24
accessdate = 2008-08-24]

Origin and spread

Listeriosis is caused by infection from "Listeria monocytogenes" bacteria. The outbreak originated from lines 8 and 9 of the Maple Leaf Foods Bartor Road facility (Establishment No. 97B) in North York, Ontario, a neighbourhood of Toronto. There are about 220 possibly contaminated products, each stamped with the code "97B" near the "Best before" date. Since the bacteria travelled through deli meats, which are cooked (and as a result are usually free of pathogens), the contamination likely occurred during packaging. [cite news
url = http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080826.wxanswers26/BNStory/National/home
title = Q&A: Listeria
last = Picard
first = André
publisher = The Globe and Mail
date = 2008-08-26
accessdate = 2008-08-27] The outbreak was first noticed in July when regular surveillance detected an increase in cases reported. [cite news
url = http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/08/24/listeria.outbreak/index.html
title = Canada links Toronto plant to deadly listeriosis outbreak
publisher = CNN
date = 2008-08-24
accessdate = 2008-08-24]

Response from Maple Leaf Foods

Maple Leaf Foods had instated a voluntary recall before the outbreak was linked to their plant; upon confirming the link, they expanded the recall to all products from the Bartor Road facility. In a press conference, President and CEO of Maple Leaf Foods Michael McCain stated, "Tragically, our products have been linked to illness and loss of life. To those people who are ill, and to the families who have lost loved ones, I offer my deepest and sincerest sympathies. Words cannot begin to express our sadness for their pain." [cite news
url = http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/August2008/23/c6402.html
title = Maple Leaf CEO Michael H. McCain Responds to Determination of Link to Plant
publisher = CNW Group
date = 2008-08-23
accessdate = 2008-08-24]

Officials from Maple Leaf believe that the outbreak originated sometime in July on line 8 or line 9 of the North York facility. Regardless, the entire plant is undergoing intense sanitation, which began August 21. About 80 workers are involved in the cleanup, with additional outside experts and microbiologists supervising the operation. They used peroxyacetic acid, quaternary ammonium compound, isopropyl alcohol, refrigeration gel and a granular compound to disinfect the parts of the apparatuses. Three hundred twenty of the employees will attend a four-hour training session on listeria and on cleanliness, and about 250 employees will be laid off until the plant is sanitized and reopened. [cite news
url = http://www.thestar.com/article/483551
title = Cleansing begins at meat plant
last = Doolitte
first = Robyn
publisher = Toronto Star
date = 2008-08-22
accessdate = 2008-08-24]

The recall will reportedly cost the company $20 million, about ten times the original estimate.cite news
url = http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/08/24/health-listeria.html
title = More listeriosis cases expected; Maple Leaf Foods expands recall
publisher = Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
date = 2008-08-25
accessdate = 2008-08-25]

Political responses

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty credited the discovery of the outbreak to an early-warning system implemented after the 2003 SARS outbreak in Toronto. [cite news
url = http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/08/22/mguinty-listeriosis.html
title = McGuinty credits early warning system with catching listeriosis outbreak
publisher = Canadian Press
date = 2008-08-22
accessdate = 2008-08-25] Canadian Health Minister Tony Clement stated that he expects the number of cases to rise with time, since the bacteria have a lengthy incubation period. Minister of Agriculture Gerry Ritz stated at a news conference: "Let me state on behalf of the government that our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of those that are affected [...] And of course, I'd like to reiterate that our highest priority continues to be making sure that Canadian families' food supply is safe."cite news
url = http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080822.RECALLOTTAWA22/TPStory/National
title = Conservatives' pro-industry approach compromises food safety, Dion says
publisher = The Globe and Mail
last = Curry
first = Bill
coauthors = Brodie Fenlon
date = 2008-08-22
accessdate = 2008-08-25]

On the federal political level, there is a developing debate on the privatization of food inspection. A cabinet document leaked earlier in the year outlines a plan to save money at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) by shifting federal meat inspectors into an oversight role and leaving companies to implement their own methods. Liberal leader Stéphane Dion was harshly critical and drew comparisons to the 2000 Walkerton tainted water tragedy and the privatization of propane inspection, which he blamed for the 2008 Toronto explosions. Gerry Ritz responded that the CFIA has added 200 inspectors since the Conservatives came to power, adding, "As opposed to having our inspectors standing line by line, they'll have a more oversight role within the plant itself [...] We're trying to build a better mousetrap here." New Democratic Party agriculture critic Alex Atamanenko said he strongly opposes the apparent privatization plans. The NDP has claimed that policy changes first put in place by the Liberals and then continued under the Conservative government are to blame for the outbreak.

Gerry Ritz comments

On September 17, 2008, Conservative Agricultural Minister Gerry Ritz made national news, when negative comments he made on August 30, 2008, in response to the 2008 Canadian listeriosis outbreak were made public. Ritz was quoted as saying, "This is like a death by a thousand cuts. Or should I say cold cuts." Then when told of a death in Prince Edward Island, Ritz said, "Please tell me it's (Liberal MP) Wayne Easter." Ritz has apologized for his remarks, however, various groups have called for his resignation. NDP Leader Jack Layton has responded by saying, "Canadians are dying because of the mismanagement of our government . . . there should absolutely never be that kind of humour... It illustrates the government is not taking this matter as seriously as they should." Prime Minister Harper has responded. A spokesperson for Harper released a statement saying Ritz's comments were tasteless and completely inappropriate. [cite news|url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080917/ritz_comments_080917/20080917?s_name=election2008|title=Ritz sorry for 'tasteless' Listeria comments|accessdate=2008-09-17] Stephen Harper refused to seek Ritz's resignation. [Cite web
last = Brian Laghi, Campbell Clark, Karen Howlett
title = Harper stands by Ritz despite 'tasteless' jokes
accessdate = 2008-09-18
date = 2008-09-18
url = http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080918.welxnritzmain0918/BNStory/politics/home?cid=al_gam_mostemail]

Deaths and confirmed cases

As of September 1, there are 12 deaths and 38 confirmed cases, with 7 deaths still under investigation. The confirmed deaths from listeria include:
*A 64-year-old man from Duncan, British Columbia who ate tainted meat in a hospitalcite news
url = http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/story.html?id=6665f47a-ba31-4754-9f78-1d0392157f2d
title = Meat linked to fifth death | last = Barrera
first1 = Jorge
coauthors = Becky Rynor
publisher = Calgary Herald
date = 2008-08-23
accessdate = 2008-08-24]
*An elderly woman from St. Catharines, Ontario
*A woman over age 70 in Waterloo, Ontario [cite news
url = http://news.therecord.com/News/CanadaWorld/article/404425
title = More than 200 items in meat recall
publisher = Waterloo Region Record
date = 2008-08-25
accessdate = 2008-08-25]
*A victim in Hamilton, Ontario
*Confirmed case in Thunder Bay, Ontario
*A woman in her 30s, in Peace Country Health Region in northwest Alberta. [cite news
url = http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/08/30/listeria.html
title = Alberta confirms first cases of listeriosis with links to outbreak
publisher = Canadian Broadcast Corporation
date = 2008-08-30
accessdate = 2008-08-30]

Class-action lawsuits

Four separate class-action lawsuits have been filed in Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia. The lawsuit in Ontario is claiming damages of $350 million. [cite news
url = http://healthzone.ca/health/article/485773
title = Lawsuits filed over tainted meat
last = Flavelle
first1 = Dana
publisher = Toronto Star
date = 2008-08-26
accessdate = 2008-08-26] All lawsuits are filed by "Merchant Law Group". [cite web
url=http://www.merchantlaw.com/mapleleaf.html
title=Maple Leaf Foods Class Action
accessdate=2008-08-26
publisher=Merchant Law Group
date=2008-08-26 ]

Hygaard Sandwich Recall

On September 24, The Canadian Food Inspection Agency issued a notice for products made by [http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/app/ccc/srch/nvgt.do?lang=eng&prtl=1&estblmntNo=123456029126&profile=cmpltPrfl&app=1 Hygaard Fine Foods Ltd] , because of a possible contamination of Listeria monocytogenes. The sandwiches had a best before date of Oct. 24 to Nov. 16 and were distributed across Canada (except for P.E.I. and New Brunswick). So far there have been no reported illnesses. [ [http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/corpaffr/recarapp/2008/20080924e.shtml HYGAARD BRAND SANDWICH PRODUCTS MAY CONTAIN LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES] ]

References

[Deathtoll now 26. With 35 under review.]

External links

* [http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/concen/2008listeriae.shtml Information on the outbreak] , from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
* [http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/corpaffr/recarapp/2008/list97be.shtml List of possibly contaminated products as of August 24] , from Canadian Food Inspection Agency
*Michael McCain [http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=cgk3o3AJM2U "A message to Canadians"] , from the President & CEO of Maple Leaf Foods regarding the listeria recall.
* [http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/08/26/f-meat-recall-timeline.html Meat Recall timeline]