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Source: http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5isB-z4hRD4ByxreUCCWe50P2jeIA
Quebec widens recall of cheese products suspected of listeriosis link
MONTREAL ? The Quebec government, concerned about the rising number of listeriosis cases in the province, widened its recall of cheese products Saturday and ordered an additional eight cheeses pulled from store shelves.
The move brings the total number of products recalled in Quebec to 11. Three other cheeses were ordered off shelves on Thursday.
There has been one confirmed death from listeriosis in Quebec and 14 people made ill. Health officials are awaiting confirmation on nine other cases. All the cases are related to Listeria in Quebec cheese products.
"These measures are exceptional but justified," said Guy Auclair, director of emergency measures for Quebec's agriculture department, citing the virulence of the Listeria strain and the severity of the illnesses caused by the bacterium.
Four pregnant women were among the 15 confirmed cases of listeriosis in Quebec. Three gave birth prematurely and the babies are being tested to see if they too are infected.
Three more pregnant women are among the nine cases awaiting confirmation.
"A major operation is in effect to control this outbreak," Auclair said at a news conference in Quebec City on Saturday.
Measures include increased inspections in all establishments making raw milk cheese products in Quebec.
Further, all 300 outlets carrying the recalled products were visited by inspectors to ensure the products were removed from the shelves.
"We want to assure consumers that everything is being done to ensure food security," Auclair said.
Quebec health officials say the eight cheeses recalled Saturday are manufactured by Medard de St-Gedeon of Lac-St-Jean, Que. and were packaged after July 12.
The Fromagiers de la table ronde in Ste-Sophie, Que., made the other three cheeses, which were recalled Thursday and have packaging dates after July 14.
The cheeses go under the names Le Rang des Iles, Le 14 Arpents, Les Petits Vieux, Le Gedeon, Le Menard, Le Couvertine, Le Cabrouet, Les Cailles, Le Fleurdelyse, Le Fou du Roy and Le Rassembleu.
Listeria bacterium was found on work surfaces and in the finished products in both facilities, Auclair said.
Auclair could not explain why these factories were contaminated, noting they are still trying to understand the source of the outbreak.
"Our investigations may permit us to explain the outbreak but no one is safe from an external contamination," said Auclair. "It could have happened to two, three more businesses."
Auclair warned that anything that came into contact with the contaminated cheeses could also pose a danger.
"They should be thrown out because they could constitute a health risk," Auclair said.
He highlighted the importance of disinfecting any surfaces that may have come into contact with a contaminated products, like knives or cutting boards.
Dr. Horacio Arruda of Quebec public health was quick to reassure the public that the risk of illness remained relatively low.
"The majority of those who eat a contaminated cheese will never develop symptoms," said Horacio Arruda.
Pregnant women, people with suppressed immune systems, and the elderly are those mainly at risk of developing listeriosis.
In late August, two types of cheese sold at two Quebec grocery stores were recalled after testing positive for the Listeria bacterium.
A listeriosis outbreak linked to deli meat products has been blamed for at least 13 deaths across the country. A Maple Leaf Foods plant in Toronto, where the Listeria bacterium was found embedded deep inside slicing equipment, has been closed since Aug. 20.
A salmonella outbreak, also linked to Quebec cheese, has claimed one life.
Quebec widens recall of cheese products suspected of listeriosis link
MONTREAL ? The Quebec government, concerned about the rising number of listeriosis cases in the province, widened its recall of cheese products Saturday and ordered an additional eight cheeses pulled from store shelves.
The move brings the total number of products recalled in Quebec to 11. Three other cheeses were ordered off shelves on Thursday.
There has been one confirmed death from listeriosis in Quebec and 14 people made ill. Health officials are awaiting confirmation on nine other cases. All the cases are related to Listeria in Quebec cheese products.
"These measures are exceptional but justified," said Guy Auclair, director of emergency measures for Quebec's agriculture department, citing the virulence of the Listeria strain and the severity of the illnesses caused by the bacterium.
Four pregnant women were among the 15 confirmed cases of listeriosis in Quebec. Three gave birth prematurely and the babies are being tested to see if they too are infected.
Three more pregnant women are among the nine cases awaiting confirmation.
"A major operation is in effect to control this outbreak," Auclair said at a news conference in Quebec City on Saturday.
Measures include increased inspections in all establishments making raw milk cheese products in Quebec.
Further, all 300 outlets carrying the recalled products were visited by inspectors to ensure the products were removed from the shelves.
"We want to assure consumers that everything is being done to ensure food security," Auclair said.
Quebec health officials say the eight cheeses recalled Saturday are manufactured by Medard de St-Gedeon of Lac-St-Jean, Que. and were packaged after July 12.
The Fromagiers de la table ronde in Ste-Sophie, Que., made the other three cheeses, which were recalled Thursday and have packaging dates after July 14.
The cheeses go under the names Le Rang des Iles, Le 14 Arpents, Les Petits Vieux, Le Gedeon, Le Menard, Le Couvertine, Le Cabrouet, Les Cailles, Le Fleurdelyse, Le Fou du Roy and Le Rassembleu.
Listeria bacterium was found on work surfaces and in the finished products in both facilities, Auclair said.
Auclair could not explain why these factories were contaminated, noting they are still trying to understand the source of the outbreak.
"Our investigations may permit us to explain the outbreak but no one is safe from an external contamination," said Auclair. "It could have happened to two, three more businesses."
Auclair warned that anything that came into contact with the contaminated cheeses could also pose a danger.
"They should be thrown out because they could constitute a health risk," Auclair said.
He highlighted the importance of disinfecting any surfaces that may have come into contact with a contaminated products, like knives or cutting boards.
Dr. Horacio Arruda of Quebec public health was quick to reassure the public that the risk of illness remained relatively low.
"The majority of those who eat a contaminated cheese will never develop symptoms," said Horacio Arruda.
Pregnant women, people with suppressed immune systems, and the elderly are those mainly at risk of developing listeriosis.
In late August, two types of cheese sold at two Quebec grocery stores were recalled after testing positive for the Listeria bacterium.
A listeriosis outbreak linked to deli meat products has been blamed for at least 13 deaths across the country. A Maple Leaf Foods plant in Toronto, where the Listeria bacterium was found embedded deep inside slicing equipment, has been closed since Aug. 20.
A salmonella outbreak, also linked to Quebec cheese, has claimed one life.