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Recalled Maple Leaf products found in Montreal
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CTV.ca News Staff
Date: Wed. Sep. 3 2008 7:04 PM ET
Maple Leaf Foods products that have been recalled because of possible contamination with Listeria were found in at least two Montreal stores on Wednesday, as Prime Minister Stephen Harper vowed to have an independent investigation into the outbreak.
CTV Montreal found a box of Hygrade pepperoni sticks -- included in the recall list -- at a convenience store. The owner said his family had purchased the products from a supplier about two weeks ago, but he had not been told it should be taken off the shelves.
"We didn't get any report," he said. "We didn't get anything."
At another convenience store, CTV Montreal found Shopsys pepperoni sticks that had also been included in the recall list. Their product code had "97B" -- linking it to the Maple Leaf Foods plant in Ontario that has been linked to the outbreak.
A store spokesperson said he had purchased the product about three weeks ago. Maple Leaf Foods issued its first recall list around Aug. 19.
Jean-Louis Michaud, a spokesperson for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, said stores and suppliers should have been notified about the recall list.
"We're concerned because every single retailer has been informed already. So we're looking at what has happened," he said.
There are roughly 30,000 convenience stores -- or "depanneurs" -- in Quebec.
Harper told reporters Wednesday he was "very troubled" by the deadly outbreak.
The prime minister told reporters, during a campaign-style stop in Windsor, Ont., that the investigation will aim to prevent a similar outbreak in the future.
The statement came on the same day the CFIA said an Ontario-based grower is recalling some of its mushrooms over Listeria-contamination fears.
Ravine Mushroom Farms Inc., of Woodbridge, Ont., is pulling its Fresh Obsessions-brand Ready to Serve pre-washed, sliced white mushrooms from store shelves in Ontario.
The mushrooms are sold in eight-ounce packages with the lot code R12398.
The code can be found ink jetted on the cellophane wrapper on the side of the package.
The CFIA said Wednesday there have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of the product.
The statement did not indicate any link between the mushroom recall and the nation-wide Listeriosis outbreak connected to a Maple Leaf Foods plant in Toronto.
The Public Health Agency of Canada says the number of confirmed deaths in which listeriosis was the underlying or contributing cause remains steady at 12.
On Tuesday, Dr. David Butler-Jones, Canada's chief public health officer, said the peak of the public's exposure to Listeria probably happened around the end of June.
With an incubation period ranging between three to 70 days, he said the number of new cases is likely to dwindle. Also, the number of suspected cases of listeriosis has dropped from 21 to 14.
Still, Maple Leaf Foods President Michael McCain said Wednesday his company is continuing to work on a comprehensive action plan to fix the situation.
"Candidly, I'm not going to allow that facility to open until I'm personally satisfied," he told CTV's Canada AM.
McCain said his long-range plan includes creating a position of chief food safety officer within his organization.
He said he's also going to assemble a "world-class team" of third-party experts to advise the company on the newest technologies to keep food safe.
Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled, warns the CFIA.
However, Listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea.
Pregnant women, the elderly and people with weak immune systems are particularly at risk. Infections during pregnancy can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn or stillbirth, says CFIA.
With files from CTV Montreal The Canadian Press
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But they probably get straight As for computer games and TV.
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Comments are now closed for this story
TrutH
said
using antibacterial fluids on your hands constantly actually invites more bacteria in..
the populations' immunes systems are getting weaker than the 'olden days'
Tracey
said
Gordon in sarnia
said
Cat
said
Joce
said
VK
said
What if.....
said
Listeriosis is spreading because inspectors can't afford to travel to the various food producers because they are in fear Dion will get to power and tax their use of fuel used to do their jobs. The Carbon tax Dion is threatening to implement will have far reaching effects more than than you might even imagine.
duck
said
Let the truth come out
said
TimT
said
OK, tell that to the families that lost loved ones because of this outbreak.
Food safety (as well as other items such as air travel...) should be a major election issue.
Marcel
said
Marg Bedore
said
Victim
said
The Mushroom Lady
said
The source of listeria in mushroom farms is usually from the slicing machine. If particles of mushroom get stuck or lodged in the cover that houses the blade, listeria can grow.
As stated before the recall is a precautionary measure, and nobody has been reported as ill.
Maeve
said
Definitely not just news.. this is a huge concern to everyday life...
Antoine
said
David Probst
said
Food poisoning is not fun, but get a reality check. Far more people per year are killed in automobile accidents than die by food poisoning and don't even go to "preventable" hospital deaths. Food can be dangerous and so is sex.
Quit panicking and eat!
Denise
said
Oh, and for Crazy Jim, the only common source for these "seemingly unrelated" events is nature. Listeria is found in soil and water.
Eileen25
said
Jim Haddad
said
This is really starting to get very serious.
Where are the food inspectors!!!
Rick in NB
said
Its a perfect time to shake up the food industry and see what falls out. Now everyone will be on the same page safety wise. It makes me feel safe, but then there are those who see deciet in everything ie: spin spin spin
JRE
said
L.
said
Steve in Aylmer
said
What is going on out there?
I had no idea what Listeria was till this year.
What is it with this listeria?
I`m confused!
What's next?????
said
People...the planet is packed with bacteria and other microbial lifeforms that may or may not harm humans.
COPE!
Jayme
said
From what i have seen there not saying there is any connections.Just to add some of those who got sick may not have been connected to the maple leaf meat virius.What i have seen reported some cases they say may not be connected to the maple leaf out break.I think it should be cleared up how many got sick directly to the maple leaf products.Its all very sad but i am starting to get confused.
Marc Debeau
said
abdula
said
How is this spin at all? No one as far as I can see has made it a major campaign issue.
Not everything needs to be a partisan issue sometimes it is just news.
As the stomach turns
said
Spin, spin, spin....
Crazy Jim
said