Quebec recalls cheese from two stores after Listeria discovery
Published Wednesday August 27th, 2008
MONTREAL - Quebec officials have recalled two types of cheese sold at two grocery stores after samples tested positive for the Listeria bacterium.
Guy Auclair of the province's food and agricultural department says the strain found in the Quebec cheese is not linked to the Listeria-tainted processed meat that prompted a recall of more than 200 products made by a Maple Leaf Foods (TSX:MFI) plant in Toronto.
Health authorities said Wednesday that nine people in Quebec currently have the strain associated with the contaminated cheese.
Auclair, the department's director of food inspection, said it's a coincidence the cheese recall comes at the same time as the outbreak linked to Maple Leaf.
"Right now, it appears bigger than usual because of the Maple Leaf case in Ontario, but each year we do a few recalls because of the presence of Listeria," he said in a phone interview.
Auclair said inspectors used information provided by people who contracted listeriosis to zero in on the stores.
His department issued one warning last Friday and another Tuesday that Riopelle de l'Ile brand cheese purchased at Aux Petits Delices in Quebec City between Aug. 6 and Aug. 11 should not be consumed.
A similar release was distributed Tuesday for cheese named Mont-Jacob that was sold with an Aug. 29 best before date at Octofruit Maitre Gourmet in Ste-Therese.
Dr. Horacio Arruda of Quebec public health said there have been 42 cases of listeriosis reported this year in Quebec, where the annual average is around 50.
The public health department reported 63 cases in 2007 and 49 in 2006.
With the 2008 number hovering close to the yearly average, Arruda said Quebecers should not be alarmed.
"I hope that the recall of that contaminated food will (help) the situation, but will somebody have eaten something before the recall? I cannot tell you," Arruda said.
Two people with listeriosis have died in Quebec in recent days. One of them had the strain linked to Maple Leaf Foods, but in the other case the strain has not yet been determined.
Auclair said provincial inspectors have visited the cheese manufacturing factories and are awaiting test results.
Officials have yet to determine how Listeria came into contact with the cheese.
"Sometimes it can be in food prepared by and contaminated by a food worker," Auclair said.
"Listeria is a bacteria that can spread."
The listeriosis outbreak linked to Maple Leaf Foods has been blamed for five deaths, all in Ontario.
Ten others have died who had the strain linked to Maple Leaf Foods, but the role played by listeriosis in those deaths has yet to be determined.
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