Four more samples of Listeria found at plant

TORONTO—Despite a massive clean-up effort and a tightly-controlled re-opening, a Maple Leaf Foods Inc. plant at the centre of a deadly listeriosis outbreak has produced more contaminated meat samples, according to both the company and Canada’s food safety watchdog.
Both Maple Leaf and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency released statements late last night saying four samples out of thousands taken had tested positive for the bacterium.

The tainted samples came from the Toronto plant at the centre of the outbreak that has killed 20 people nation-wide.
None of the products produced at the plant since it re-opened Sept. 17 have been sold and there is no danger to the public, the company and the CFIA said.
The company said 5,000 samples have been taken while the CFIA put the number at 2,700.
Speaking to The Canadian Press, a source confirmed reports that members of the Prime Minister’s Office and the Privy Council office met with CFIA representatives to discuss the latest findings.
Maple Leaf chief executive Michael McCain said the positive samples were not entirely unexpected, saying Listeria bacteria are common in food production facilities.
“Listeria exists in all food plants, all supermarkets, and presumably in all kitchens,” he said in the statement. “Our testing protocols are designed to find positive results so we can remediate them immediately.
“While there is no risk to the public, we are behaving in the most conservative way possible, according to the protocols in how these findings are always to be handled,” he added.
The plant was shut down in mid-August after lab tests discovered the contamination. Further investigation later traced the bacteria to slicing machines in the facility.
Bob Kingston, president of the Agriculture Union representing CFIA inspectors, told the Globe and Mail he was “flabbergasted” by yesterday’s findings given the scrutiny the plant has been under since its closure in August.