MAPLE LEAF TESTS POSITIVE FOR LISTERIA IN RE-OPENED PLANT
The Bartor Road plant that was linked to the deadly listeriosis outbreak that killed 20 people since August that was shut down, intensely cleaned and sanitized, and re-opened, has just announced that while working at 30% capacity there have been 4 positive tests for Listeria Monocytogenes.
Michael McCain, The president of Maple Leaf Foods addressed the public in a news conference on October 9, 2008 to comment. "While this plant has undergone intensive sanitization, we will never eliminate (the Listeria bacteria),". "It exists in all food plants, all supermarkets and presumably all kitchens." McCain continued to state there is an ongoing dialogue between Maple Leaf and the CFIA and that at this time there has been no product released to the public with no estimate regarding when product from Bartor Road would be in the marketplace again. "We will never eliminate Listeria," he said. "hat is an impossible expectation. We will work to reduce the risk to the lowest reasonable level possible, but we cannot eliminate the risk."
Reference:
http://news.sympatico.msn.ctv.ca
www.meatingplace.com
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_27766.aspx
E.COLI TRIGGERS THREE RECALLS RESULTING IN 27,000 POUNDS OF BEEF
According to the USDA's food Safety and Inspection Service, recently imported beef from Nicaragua is currently involved in 3 separate recalls of frozen beef trim as it may be contaminated with E. coli 0157:H7. Approximately 20,460 pounds of frozen beef trim from A.C.S. Meyners Ltda. In Ponte Verde, Fla, 4,200 pounds from Astro Meats & Seafood Inc. in Miami, and 2,340 pounds from Colorado Food Products in Greenwood Village, Colo.
The problem was discovered through FSIS microbiological sampling of imported product and there has not been any reports of illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.
CFIA Informs Public of E.coli Investigation
The Canadian Food inspection Agency has informed the public of its current investigation into the possible link between the E.coli O157:H7 outbreak in the United States and two cases in Southern Ontario.
Both the Michigan and Illinois Departments of Health issued separated warnings concerning chopped shredded iceberg lettuce which may have been contaminated. Immediately after being notified of the possible link, the CFIA initiated its own investigation, contacting all known importers and currently nearing completion on the tracing of the products.
The lettuce was imported into Ontario for restaurant and institution use, and to-date two illnesses with the same pattern of E.coli as in the U.S. outbreak have been confirmed.
IVANHOE CHEESE ISSUE RECALL AND HALT PRODUCTION DUE TO LISTERIA
What started as a public warning from Ivanhoe Cheese and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CIFA) became a voluntary recall a day later since the Ivanhoe Cheese Factory tested positive for Listeria in their cutting room. The plant has halted all production and has been undergoing a deep cleaning as of earlier this week while they continue to test for the bacteria and investigate to find the source of the contamination. It is unknown as to how long the plant will be closed.
Ivanhoe and the CFIA have expanded the recall notice on September 5 and 10 but according to Ivanhoe's website "There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products".
Reference:
www.communitypress.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1195282
www.ivanhoecheese.com
www.inspection.gc.ca
CFIA ADVISES ALL CANADIAN MEAT PLANTS TO DISMANTLE SLICERS
After the recent Maple Leaf Foods Listeria recall of 191 products that had 38 confirmed illnesses, 13 confirmed deaths, with an additional 22 suspected cases and 6 other deaths under investigation has resulted in the total shut down of their Bartor Road plant for investigation, sanitization, and review since August 20, 2008 and costing Maple Leaf more than the estimated $20 Million dollars. The results of their investigation have now been released to the public.
The CFIA has found that there was a bacterial build-up deep inside the mechanical components of Formax S-180 slicers on lines 8 and 9. Because of this the CFIA has issued an advisory notice to all Canadian meat plants to disassemble and perform a systematic, thorough and aggressive cleaning and sanitation procedure on meat slicing equipment, including all internal non-electronic parts and inform the CFIA inspector of all details of this exercise.
Reference:
www.meatingplace.com/membersonly/webnews/details.aspx?item=9658&pf=true
www.meatingplace.com/membersonly/webnews/details/aspx?item=9628&pf=true
www.meatingplace.com/membersonly/webnews/details/aspx?item=9645&pf=true
Likely Source of Listeria Contamination Identified
Maple Leaf Foods has reported that investigations into the Listeria contamination in one of their Toronto plants have identified the likely source of bacteria collection. Experts disclosed that deep inside the mechanical operations of two slicing machines on lines 8 and 9, sites of bacterial collection were found.
Maple Leaf explained that although "rigorous sanitization of the equipment was completed on a daily basis in accordance with or exceeding the equipment manufacturer's recommendations, upon disassembly areas were found where bacteria could accumulate and avoid the sanitization process".
To date there have been 38 reported cases of listeriosis and 13 deaths in Canada. Another 22 suspected cases and 6 deaths are still being investigated. Maple Leaf CEO, Micheal Calin, explained that until Maple Leaf and the Canadian government are confident in the effectiveness of the safety of protocols put in place, that the plant would remain closed.
Reference:
http://www.meatingplace.com/MembersOnly/webNews/details.aspx?item=9628
LISTERIOSIS TOLL GROWS AS PLANT REMAINS CLOSED
There have been 12 deaths of which 6 still are under investigation, 26 confirmed cases, and 29 cases under investigation linked to the listeriosis recall across Canada. The plant will remain closed longer than expected while Maple Leaf and Federal Health officials want extra time to complete additional equipment disassembly and further tests. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz told the news conference in Ottawa that "We fully expect that both the numbers of suspected cases and confirmed cases will increase as this investigation continues and sample continue to be tested," and a Maple Leaf spokeswoman said all recalled products had been removed from store shelves in Canada.
Maple Leaf Foods has brought in a team of experts from the U.S. and elsewhere to help get it back up and running and Linda Smith spokeswoman for the company said "We are reviewing protocols and the changes in protocol that we will open the facility under,". One of these changes includes a "hold-and-test" approach that involves taking samples from products and waiting for test results before the meat will be allowed to leave the plant.
Meanwhile a Saskatchewan-based Merchant Law Group has filed a class-action lawsuit against Maple Leaf with hundreds of consumers joining the action within hours. If the case is won, it is speculated that the total compensation could exceed hundreds of millions of dollars.
Reference:
www.nationalpost.com/story-printer.html?id=748773
http://www.meatingplace.com/MembersOnly/webNews/details.aspx?item=9492
http://www.meatingplace.com/MembersOnly/webNews/details.aspx?item=9536