Six new cases of listeriosis were reported in Canada today as several Silk and Great Value brand refrigerated plant-based beverages are being recalled due to contamination with the bacteria. Listeria.
The listeriosis outbreak is growing in Canada, with 18 cases of listeriosis reported Tuesday by the Public Health Agency of Canada. This is up from 12 cases reported in mid-July.
There have been four cases of listeriosis in Quebec, and no fewer than twelve in Ontario, while one case has been reported in Alberta and another in Nova Scotia.
Nationwide, two people have died and 13 have been hospitalized as a result of the disease, which can be fatal to unborn children, newborns, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems. The youngest person to contract the disease was seven years old, and the oldest is 89.
Those who fell ill were between 7 and 89 years old. Most of them were aged 50 or over (67%) and most were women (72%).
It should be noted that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) issued a recall on Monday concerning brands of plant-based drinks made from almonds, cashew nuts, coconut from the Silk brand, as well as oat milks due to problems related to the bacteria. Listeria.
The products in question were manufactured in Ontario and distributed by Danone Canada, which says it has preemptively suspended all production and shipping from this third-party facility in order to conduct a thorough investigation.
With The Canadian Press