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Series of pork products in Maple Leaf recall
The list of products that was recalled from the Canadian company Maple
Leaf Foods this week, contains several pork products, marketed in different
brands.
The Canadian food processor recalled all its products made at the Toronto
plant, manufactured from January 2008, since a link has been determined between
a strain of Listeria bacteria found at one of Maple Leaf's plants outside of
Toronto. The strain caused illness and at least fifteen people to lose their
lives, after which the plant itself was temporarily closed down.
The
product recall list includes e.g. ham products marketed under the Maple Leaf
brand, but also under various other brand names, like Artisan Collection, Best
Value, Bittners/Schneiders, Burns, Country Morning, Equality, Harmonie,
Mayfair/Marque, Olympic, Overlander, Schneiders, The Butcher's Cut and Western
Family. A full list of recalled products can be found here.
Responsibility
The Canadian food
processor took full responsibility for the outbreak, which is thought to have
been caused by a shipment of bad ready-to-eat meat products.
Maple Leaf
says it has no evidence that the bacteria could have spread beyond two initial
lines that were identified as being linked to affected product.
Recall
The recall began on August 17 when the company
announced it was recalling beef products due to Listeria contamination.
The recall was expanded on August 20 to various other processed meat
products.
Two days later, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Public
Health Agency of Canada concluded that the strain of Listeria found in
the first two beef products matched the strain involved in two cases of
food-borne illness. As a result, Maple Leaf Foods expanded the recall once more,
now including all products produced at the
plant.
Sympathy
Maple Leaf sent out press releases recently and
offered 'deep and sincere sympathy to those who are ill, or who have lost loved
ones, on behalf of the 23,000 people of Maple Leaf Foods who live a culture of
food safety'.
It is expected that the number of confirmed and suspected
cases will continue to increase over the next several weeks. It is estimated
that the recall will cost the approximately CAN$20 million (US$19 million),
which primarily will be incurred for the reimbursement for returned products.
Financial losses however are thought to turn out larger, since the company has
become the target of a class action lawsuit.
Related web
sites:
• Maple Leaf
Foods
• Canadian Food
Inspection Agency
• Public Health
Agency Canada
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