By Rosalind Russell – Tragic and unacceptable.
That from federal Health Minister Mark Holland after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency determined a third-party manufacturer at the centre of a plant-based refrigerated beverage recall was not adhering to Health Canada’s policy for Listeria.
Three Canadians died with at least 20 lab-confirmed cases in four provinces – including Ontario and Alberta.
Holland also says they’re learning more about Listeria, with plant-based products initially thought to be low risk.
Production at the Pickering (Ontario) plant was shut down in July with the agency saying significant cleaning and renovations are underway.
Lab-confirmed cases by province: Alberta-1, Ontario-13, Quebec-5, Nova Scotia-1
Photo: CFIA