Two people have died in connection with a listeriosis outbreak that prompted a recall earlier this month of plant-based milks across Canada.
Twelve laboratory-confirmed listeriosis cases have been reported across the country thus far, resulting in two deaths and nine hospitalizations, Health Canada said in a July 17 advisory.
Ten of the cases were located in Ontario, and one each has been reported in Quebec and Nova Scotia.
The outbreak, which remains under investigation, has been linked to the recall earlier this month of Silk brand almond milk, coconut milk, almond-coconut milk, and oat milk as well as Great Value brand almond milk, the health agency said.
A large portion of the products recalled for possible listeria monocytogenes contamination have best-before dates up to and including Oct. 4. Health Canada is urging consumers to discard the recalled products or return them to the place of purchase.
Sixty-seven percent of the cases, which were reported from August 2023 to early July 2024, involved women, the agency said. The age range of those who became ill was between 37 and 89, with 58 percent being 60 or older.
Danone Canada, which owns Silk, said the 15 recalled Silk refrigerated beverages have been removed from retail shelves.
“The news in this notice is devastating and our most sincere sympathies go out to the families and loved ones during this difficult time,” Danone President Frédéric Guichard said in a July 17 statement.
“We are working with the utmost seriousness and in close partnership with the authorities to thoroughly investigate and shed light on the circumstances surrounding this event.”
What is Listeriosis?
Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne bacterial illness that causes listeriosis. Products contaminated with listeria may not look or smell spoiled, but can still make you sick, the health agency said.The illness often causes nausea, vomiting, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache, and neck stiffness but can also lead to more serious symptoms such as meningitis and blood poisoning.
While healthy individuals can fall ill from a listeria infection, the disease can become fatal for individuals over age 60, those with weakened immune systems, unborn babies, and newborns, Health Canada said.
“Although people infected while pregnant may only experience mild, flu-like symptoms, listeriosis can spread to their unborn baby, and it can cause a miscarriage, a stillbirth, a premature birth, or life-threatening illness in your baby shortly after birth,” the agency said.
Symptoms of severe listeriosis can appear as many as 70 days after exposure to listeria.
Approximately 134 cases of invasive listeriosis have been reported annually in the country in recent years, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Public Health Ontario stats show there were 75 reported listeria cases in 2022, which included 48 hospitalizations and 14 deaths.
