18 FOOD HygIENE & sAFETy
☞
in March and April when increased numbers of positive business; the ceo and senior management of all meat
listeria test results showed up on line 8, every two to processors should ensure effective design and actively
three weeks. During the week of 19 May, more positive promote all aspects of food safety consistent with their
test results appeared on the plant’s lines 7 and 8. With Food Safety Plan; such plans should be regularly updated
the benefit of hindsight, we now know that this problem to ensure on-going attention to pathogen control; all
persisted over several months before 3 June onset of the meat processors should ensure that new and existing
first case of human illness linked to contaminated Maple equipment is and remains appropriate for the intended
Leaf Foods deli meat products. Positive results for listeria use; sanitation methods should be validated and
from environmental testing were also identified during implemented by meat processors in consultation with the
the week of 23 June. equipment manufacturer, with a particular focus on the
In each instance, the plant staff took action to destroy intended use and the products being processed on each
the bug. They employed a ‘search and destroy’ approach piece of equipment.
– the recognised standard procedure – sanitising all the p To improve sanitation of food processing equipment,
surfaces where the bacteria could grow on production manufacturers of food processing equipment should
lines and throughout the building. Every time employees ensure that their specifications and instructions to users
intervened, the follow-up test results were negative, at specifically emphasise the necessity to control the risk
least for awhile. This led to the assumption that the of pathogens, including listeria monocytogenes. In
problem had been solved, creating a false sense of addition, manufacturers of food processing equipment
security. should accept responsibility for the foreseeable impact
What was missing was the big picture – recognising of the design and operation of their equipment on food
the repeated pattern of presence of listeria on the same safety. The design and operation of, and recommended
production lines several weeks after the problem was sanitation methods for all food processing equipment
presumed to have been fixed. should: enable thorough cleaning and disinfection; allow
The report then goes into considerable detail for efficient and complete disassembly and reassembly
about how food safety is managed in Canada and looks when required; eliminate to the fullest extent possible
more closely at how the events of 2008 were managed: all areas likely to harbour pathogens, including listeria
everything from equipment suppliers to the information monocytogenes; wherever possible, use material that
supplied to the public by the government comes under is scientifically validated to limit pathogen growth or
its spotlight. survival; and be peer-reviewed (applicable only for the
It concludes with 57 recommendations, including: recommended sanitation methods).
p To enhance food safety awareness of meat processors p Finally, the report concludes that to demonstrate
including but not limited to Federally-registered ones: its commitment to food safety, the government of
the ceo and senior management of all meat processors Canada should be mindful that due to globalisation and
should accept oversight responsibility for ensuring that increased Canada-wide production and distribution of
food safety is fully embedded in every level of their food, food safety will require increased attention. p
Table 1. Key dates of the outbreak (source: July 2009 Report of the Independent Investigator into the 2008 Listeriosis outbreak).
February to July (2008) – sporadic positive listeria test results at Bartor Road plant.
3 June – earliest known human illness linked to the listeriosis outbreak.
17 June – first death linked to listeriosis from contaminated Maple Leaf Foods product.
10 July – first two listeriosis cases in the outbreak identified through DNA fingerprinting.
18 July – Maple Leaf Foods first identified as possible source of contaminated food products.
22 July – 11 food samples from Toronto long-term care home sent for testing.
29 July – more than double the normal number of listeriosis cases (24 v 11 expected) reported by almost half of Ontario public health units.
4 August – food samples from long-term care home test positive for listeria monocytogenes.
7 August – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) initiates a food safety investigation.
12 August – DNA fingerprinting matches cases from several provinces.
13 August – Maple Leaf Foods advises distributors to hold certain products.
16 August – THE CFIA confirms listeria monocytogenes in Maple Leaf Foods products.
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