Contaminated Slicing Machines Likely Listeriosis Source

Buy an ad on DigitalJournal.com

The CEO of Maple Leaf Foods, Michael McCain has stated two slicing machines at the Maple Leaf Foods plant in Toronto are believed to be the most likely source of listeriosis that led to a deadly outbreak.

McCain said "areas were found deep inside the machines where bacteria may have accumulated and avoided our rigorous sanitization procedures" .

This happened during an investigation into the outbreak.

The machines had been cleaned on a daily, weekly and monthly basis as per protocol.

It is also possible the location of the service elevator, floor drain and tote bins are possible contributing factors, even though those surfaces were not considered to have come in contact with the products.

McCain said the investigation's findings were not conclusive because the pervasiveness of listeria "makes an absolute determination [of the outbreak] impossible."

"When [the experts] complete their investigation, the best they can do is advise what their best judgment is, and they feel quite strongly about that judgment," he said.

"In their best judgment, this is the most likely cause."

To date, 13 deaths are directly linked to listeriosis found in meat from the Toronto plant.

The entire plant was shut down and all 220 products produced at the facility were recalled, at an estimated cost of about $20 million.

After the outbreak became known, the company removed all products and machinery from the plant. The plant has also undergone four sanitization cycles.

The company has completely torn down and deep cleaned the slicing equipment on the two affected product lines four times and tested multiple times and reassembled.

In addition, the remaining lines in the plant have also been deep cleaned and reassembled.

McCain hopes consumers will accept an apology issued by the company in newspapers and TV ads last month and find a way to trust the company once again.

"That's a process that will certainly take time," he said. "I think it's going to be our consumers that determine whether they have confidence in us, not Maple Leaf."

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said an independent investigation into the outbreak will be held.