Bartor Road Sliced Meats Recall - Background (PDF)
List of recalled products (PDF)
Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that is pervasive in the environment and found in soil, vegetation, animal feed and animal and human waste. The bacterium have also been known to contaminate cheese made from unpasteurized milk, raw and processed meat products, and can be found in unwashed vegetables. It is found in residential and industrial environments where food is prepared and it is destroyed through cooking.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Public Health Agency of Canada concluded that the strain of Listeria bacteria which is linked to the illness and loss of life of several Canadians matches the same Listeria strain identified in some Maple Leaf food products.
Consumption of food contaminated with the Listeria bacteria may cause listeriosis, a food borne illness. While very rare, affecting an estimated 1-5 in 1,000,000 people per year in most developed countries, the elderly, newborns, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk. Symptoms can include high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Infected pregnant women may experience only a mild, flu-like illness, however, infections during pregnancy can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or even stillbirth. If you have any concerns you may have listeriosis, you should contact a doctor immediately. More information is available at www.inspection.gc.ca.
We believe the most likely source was deep inside the mechanical components of two identical slicing machines. There were other possible contributing environmental factors but they were not product contact surfaces. To read more click here.
We voluntarily shut down all operations at the plant on August 20th. Since then we have been conducting a comprehensive investigation and deep sanitization of the plant, working in close consultation with the CFIA. Our comprehensive sanitization activities included the following:
The plant has undergone six complete sanitization cycles, well beyond normal cleaning practices, under the supervision of external microbiologists and sanitation experts.
The slicing equipment involved in the recall has been completely torn down, deep cleaned and tested multiple times.
The effectiveness of sanitation has been verified through intensified tear-downs and swabbing, involving over 1,200 tests for Listeria from various points on all production lines and throughout the plant.
We have also completed other operational improvements, including enhanced drain sanitation protocols, restricted use of elevators near production lines, and additional food safety training for our people.
All slicing equipment across the Maple Leaf networks is now subject to even more stringent cleaning and testing protocols, which includes additional daily disassembly prior to daily cleaning, and regularly scheduled intensive disassembly to verify elimination of potential harborage points. These steps well exceed manufacturers’ instructions. We have also enhanced our regular environmental Listeria monitoring program, significantly increasing the sampling sites and frequency of testing. Our testing protocol far exceeds industry standards.
No products will be released from the plant until the CFIA and Maple Leaf are fully satisfied that our food safety protocols are effective.
The permanent changes we are making at Bartor Road are being implemented at our other 23 packaged meat plants. These include regular disassembly of slicing equipment and deep sanitation on a regular basis, increased environmental testing, and additional employee training related to new operating procedures and control of food-borne pathogens.
Under our enhanced protocols, product samples will be tested for Listeria species in the event of a second positive environmental result following an initial investigation and deep cleaning of the line. This is a very conservative approach and consistent with industry best practices.
Click here to view our Listeria Fact Sheet. More information is available at www.inspection.gc.ca.
