Maple Leaf Explains Listeria Situation at its Plant

CANADA - Maple Leaf Foods held a press conference last week regarding the ongoing problems with listeria contamination at one of its plants.
calendar icon 13 October 2008
clock icon 3 minute read

Prior to the conference, Maple Leaf Foods offered the following summary of and background to the listeria-positive test results at its Bartor Road plant.

Maple Leaf Foods voluntarily recalled 191 products produced at its Bartor Road facility from January 1, 2008, to present, as a precautionary measure after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Public Health Agency of Canada concluded that the same Listeria monocytogenes strain identified in some Maple Leaf products was linked to the illness and loss of life of several Canadians.

  • The Bartor Road plant began phasing in production on September 17, 2008.
  • The plant has been operating within a very highly controlled and monitored environment, with daily on-site inspection and oversight by the CFIA to ensure the effectiveness of food safety protocols.
  • As part of the controlled plant start-up, all products have been subject to a hold and release program to test for the presence of Listeria monocytogenes (Listeria mono.).
  • Nearly 6,000 samples in total have been taken to date, (5,040 product and 841 environmental). We have received 3,850 product test results that include production through to October 2nd, all of which have tested negative with the exception of four product samples (0.1%) produced on Line 7 and one environmental swab (0.15%).
  • No products from the plant, including the four product samples that tested positive, have been distributed for public consumption and the protocols we have in place have proven to be very effective.
  • We are being ultra-cautious in this facility. Maple Leaf and the CFIA has placed all product on hold pending a confirmation that these findings are validated, reflecting the conservative approach to phasing in the start-up of the Bartor Road plant.

The Facts behind the Tests

  • Of 841 environmental samples taken to date, we have obtained 671 results, of which only one (0.15%) has tested positive for listeria species.
  • 60 product samples are taken from each line daily. Samples are taken off the line every 8-12 minutes:
    • 5 products are put into a composite test
    • One day = 12 composite samples
  • Of 5,040 product samples taken to date, we have obtained 3,850 test results, all of which have been negative for Listeria mono. except for four samples, which all came from line 7.
  • The four samples that tested positive were from two products, Hygrade smoked meat and Coorsh smoked meat.
  • No products have been released for distribution and there is no risk to the public.

Background Information

  • Listeria is pervasive in the environment and exists in all food plants. While it can be reduced it can never be eliminated. The more you test the greater the probability that you will find listeria.
  • As Health Canada states, the incidence of Listeria mono. in ready-to-eat (RTE) foods ranges from 1-10%. Put another way, one in every 200 products will test positive for Listeria mono. To most people, Listeria mono. poses a very low risk.
  • The Bartor Road plant is subject to the most rigorous testing and inspection in North America. It has a number of checks in place to ensure we verify on a continuous basis the effectiveness of our food safety protocols.
  • The standard protocol for positive tests in a Maple Leaf plant is immediate product quarantine and remediation through sanitization programs.
  • The four product samples from Line 7 that tested positive have not been shipped to customers and all remaining production since the plant re-opened is 100% within our control.
  • None of our products in the market is affected.
  • Our testing protocols are doing what they are intended - identifying listeria so that it can be remediated. We are upholding the highest standard of food safety vigilance in Canada.

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