Dateline: 09/08/08
On the eve of the federal election campaign, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the terms of reference for an independent investigation into the listeria outbreak relating to meat products from Maple Leaf Foods.
A report on the listeria investigation is to be submitted to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food by 15 March 2009.
Listeriosis Outbreak
Listeriosis, food poisoning due to Listeria monocytogene bacteria, from contaminated food products produced at a Maple Leaf Foods plant in Toronto caused at least 13 deaths across Canada. Maple Leaf voluntarily shut down all operations at the plant on August 20th, 2008 and implemented a voluntary recall of meat products made at the plant from January 1, 2008. In a news release, Maple Leaf said early indications were that the most likely source of the contamination was a collection point of bacteria deep inside the mechanical operations of two slicing machines, which could not be identified until the machines were fully disassembled. The company also said that "other environmental factors" may have contributed to the contamination.
The Agriculture Union of the Public Service Alliance of Canada has also raised concerns about the food inspection process in Canada.
Listeria Investigation Terms of Reference
The investigation will:
- examine the events, circumstances and factors that contributed to the listeriosis outbreak
- review the efficiency and effectiveness of the federal government response, including prevention, recall of contaminated products, and collaboration and communication with its food safety system partners and consumers
- make recommendations on what could be done to prevent a similar outbreak in the future, and on the removal of contaminated products from the food supply.
The investigation will not make any conclusions or recommendations regarding the civil or criminal liability of any person or organization.
