Maple Leaf Foods, the Canadian food manufacturer at the centre of a listeria outbreak that has been linked to 12 deaths, has identified the probable source of contamination at its Toronto production plant.
According to the company, physical evidence and test results provided by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency suggest that the most likely source of contamination was “a possible collection point for bacteria located deep inside the mechanical operations of two slicing machines”.
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The company emphasised that “rigorous sanitisation” of this equipment was completed on a daily basis in accordance with or exceeding the equipment manufacturers’ guidelines.
“We deeply regret this incident and the impact it has had on people’s lives,” said Michael McCain, president and CEO. “We have the highest food safety standards and we have worked around the clock and left no stone unturned to identify the root cause and eliminate the source of this contamination. Throughout this crisis we have done whatever it takes to place our consumers’ interests and public health first. It’s now up to us to earn back your confidence.”
The slicing equipment has been “completely torn down and deep-cleaned”, Maple Leaf said.
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