UPDATE
2-Canada says 12 dead in food poisoning outbreak
Mon Aug 25, 2008 6:42pm EDT
Source of Article: http://www.reuters.com/article/asiaRegulatoryNews/idUSN2525867920080825?sp=true
WINNIPEG,
Manitoba, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Twelve people have now died out of 26 confirmed
cases of food poisoning linked to deli meats produced at a plant owned by Maple
Leaf Foods Inc (MFI.TO: Quote, Profile, Research,
Stock Buzz), Canadian
health officials said Monday.
There are
another 29 suspected cases of listeriosis, officials
told reporters, and Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said the government
expected more cases in coming days.
Maple Leaf
Foods, one of Canada's biggest meat processors, had said it hoped to reopen the
Toronto plant associated with the outbreak on Tuesday, but health officials
said they will test and hold all meat produced there until they are satisfied
it is not contaminated.
"The
timeframe really isn't theirs. It belongs more to the (Canadian Food Inspection
Agency)," Ritz said.
Maple Leaf has
voluntarily pulled about 220 products made at the plant in one of the biggest
food recalls ever in
Listeria
bacteria with the same genetic fingerprint as that found in the ill people was
found in two beef products made at the plant. Those products and about 20
others made on the same lines were recalled last week.
Listeriosis, an illness that is particularly dangerous for
pregnant women, the elderly, infants and people with weak immune systems, was a
contributing factor in seven of the deaths, the Public Health Agency of Canada
said.
Five others
had the bacteria in their system, but the causes of their deaths are still
under investigation, said the agency's Mark Raizenne.
Previously,
four deaths had been attributed to the outbreak.
Maple Leaf has said it's unlikely it will be able to
determine how its meat was contaminated, explaining that the listeria bacterium is common and pervasive.
"It's
very, very, very difficult, if not impossible, to pinpoint a cause," Chief
Financial Officer Michael Vels told analysts on
Monday before the latest health announcement.
"I don't
know how important that is to consumers. I think our perspective is what's more
important is we let them know what's going on and we
take swift and conservative action to safeguard their health," Vels said.
Maple Leaf is
double-checking procedures at all of its 23 plants but has no reason to believe
any other products are at risk of contamination, he said.
Reimbursing
customers for returned products, cleaning the plant and other direct expenses
will cost the company C$20 million before taxes, Vels
said.
On top of the
company's initial cost estimate, it may face reduced sales and increased
advertising costs, he said.
Maple Leaf
shares closed 10 percent lower at C$8.80 ahead of the announcement of the
latest deaths.
Vels declined to speculate on whether Maple Leaf would have
any financial liability from lawsuits, but said the company has product
liability insurance.
"No
definitive link has been made between the listeria
causing the illness and deaths, and Maple Leaf products," Vels told analysts.
But a lawyer known for aggressively pursuing class
action lawsuits, including against tainted pet food maker Menu Foods Income
Fund (MEW_u.TO: Quote, Profile,
Research,
Stock Buzz), said
his firm will take action against Maple Leaf.
"It's
apparent, immediately, that the company has been downplaying the significance
of what's going on," Tony Merchant said in an interview with CTV News.
($1=$1.05 Canadian) (Reporting by Roberta Rampton;
editing by Rob Wilson)
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