TORONTO, Oct 22, 2008 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Shipping of processed meats from the
Toronto plant associated with 20 listeriosis deaths will resume next week with
federal permission.
The Maple Leaf plant was closed Aug. 20 after a rash of listeria-related
illnesses were reported, most of them in institutions such as nursing homes. The
company issued a recall of all of the more than 200 products the plant produced.
The recall has cost the company more than $20 million, the Toronto Sun reported.
Tuesday, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said it was satisfied the plant had
been sufficiently sanitized to resume commercial production and shipments were
expected to begin next week, the report said.
The source of the contamination was found to be deep within mechanical slicers,
officials said.
The Toronto Star said 20 families of those who died or were sickened have signed
on to a class action suit against Maple Leaf. A damages figure won't be set
until the suit's population is complete and the courts confirm the case's class
status, the report said.
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