The Maple Leaf plant at the heart of the listeriosis outbreak reopened last week amid more food recalls and the death of a Manitoba infant from the disease.
It wasn’t yet known if the child, a six-week-old girl who lived in the province’s north, had contracted the disease from the same strain of listeria as the outbreak cases.
Listeria can affect babies while still in the womb.
A previously reported listeriosis death in Prince Edward Island was found to be untrue.
As of Sept. 22, 48 cases of listeriosis in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec and New Brunswick were confirmed with the same genetic blueprint as the outbreak strain. Another 10 were suspected.
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The number of deaths linked to the strain is 21; five are still under investigation.
Maple Leaf Foods chief executive officer Michael McCain said the plant in Toronto reopened Sept. 17 after a comprehensive inspection by Canadian Food Inspection Agency officials.
The plant underwent six deep sanitizations under the supervision of microbiologists and sanitation experts, the company said.
Slicing equipment thought to harbour the bacteria was cleaned several times.
More than 1,200 swab tests for listeria were taken throughout the plant before it reopened.
The plant opened on a phase-in basis. Products won’t be released to consumers until the CFIA and the company are sure the food is safe, and not before six weeks.
The CFIA has said the contamination was likely through a combination of factors, including the slicing machines, and employee and product movement.
Meanwhile, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Smith’s Snack Service Ltd. recalled 31 of its products, including deli meats, prepared sandwiches and desserts. No illnesses have been reported from eating Smith’s products.
