Canada: 1 dead, 16 ill in listeriosis outbreak

TORONTO – An outbreak of listeriosis has killed one person and sickened at least 16 others, Canadian public health officials said Wednesday, as a food company suspended production at a Toronto plant and expanded a recall of nearly two dozen types of packaged meats.

The Public Health Agency of Canada said it was working with officials in four provinces to establish any link between the outbreak and the affected products recalled by Maple Leaf Foods.

Listeriosis is a kind of food poisoning that can be dangerous to the elderly, newborns, pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions. Symptoms include fever, headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.

On Sunday, the company announced it had discovered listeria bacteria in roast beef and corned beef made at the Toronto facility. It increased the recall on Wednesday to a total of 23 products, including a variety of turkey, smoked meat and roast beef.

Maple Leaf said that the recall covered all products prepared at the plant since June 2 and that it was temporarily closing the facility to re-evaluate food safety procedures.