August 2008

Canadian health officials now say 12 deaths have been linked to a listeriosis outbreak from a Maple Leaf Foods plant in North York, Ontario.

The spike in deaths is because they have reworked the definition to include any cases where Listeria is an underlying or contributing factor to a person’s illness, said Agricultural Minister Gerry

About 150 pounds of Santa’s Smokehouse brand smoked keta salmon is being recalled because may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause people serious infections.

Fairbanks, AK-based Interior Alaska Fish Processors Inc. sold the keta in random weight portions and packaged in clear plastic vacuum sealed bags with the Santa’s Smokehouse "teriyaki

There’s been a second death in Canada due to the listeria outbreak that may be linked to Maple Leaf Foods ready-to-eat meats. CTV reports:

A second person is confirmed to have died from the deadly bacterial in Waterloo, Ontario. The victim is described as an elderly woman.

The first person to die from the bacteria

Routine microbiological testing by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety & Inspection Service (FSIS) has led to recall of pork products made in Hawaii and distributed to food service and retail outlets on the islands of Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, and Oahu.

The FSIS testing found contamination with Listeria monocytogenes and forced Kapolei-based Palama Holdings,

Routine testing by the federal Food Safety & Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture has led to a recall of approximately 285 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

DBC, Inc., doing business as World Class Canapes, Inc., a Wilmington, Mass., firm, is recalling the following