Third person dies after drinking Listeria-contaminated plant-based milk

There have been no cases of related illness recorded in B.C. so far.
By: Stephanie Ip, Aug 13, 2024
A third person has died after drinking Listeria-contaminated plant-based milk that was recalled across the country. On Monday, the Public Health Agency of Canada reported the third death, as well as two new cases of illness, one in Quebec and one in Ontario.
Last month, officials recalled Silk and Great Value plant-based milks that were produced by an Ontario manufacturer and distributed across the country, due to a Listeria contamination. To date, 20 people have fallen ill after drinking the contaminated beverage, 15 of which have required hospitalization.
There have been no cases of related illness recorded in B.C. so far.
What is the Silk and Great Value plant-based beverage recall about?
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has confirmed several cases of potential contamination by Listeria monocytogenes related to Silk and Great Value plant-based milks produced by a third-party manufacturer in Ontario and distributed by Danone Canada.
“Upon learning of confirmed cases of Listeria monocytogenes linked to these Silk refrigerated beverage products, Danone Canada, together with the CFIA, took immediate action to issue a voluntary recall on 15 Silk refrigerated plant-based beverage SKUs,” read a news release issued by Danone on July 8.
“Danone has also preventively halted all production and shipments coming from this facility, until further notice, to carry out a thorough investigation.”
Where is the recall in effect?
The recall was issued on July 8, 2024, by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and applies to products sold across Canada.
According to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, there have been “no laboratory-confirmed cases of Listeria linked to the recall yet in B.C.”
“However, public health is monitoring reports of illness carefully,” read a statement issued by the BCCDC on July 9.
On Aug. 12, officials confirmed the total number of cases linked to the contaminated product had grown to 20. Of those, 13 had been hospitalized and three have died.
What products are included in the recall?
Among the affected products are:
• Great Value Almond Unsweetened Original, Almond Original, and Almond Vanilla beverages in the 1.89 litre size. The affected items have product codes containing 7825 and have an expiry date up to and including Oct. 4, 2024.
• Silk Almond & Coconut Unsweetened, Almond Original, Almond Dark Chocolate, Almond Unsweetened, Almond Unsweetened Vanilla, Almond Vanilla, and Coconut Original in the 1.89 litre size. The affected items have product codes containing 7825 and have an expiry date up to and including Oct. 4, 2024.
• Silk Coconut Unsweetened in the 1.89 litre size. The affected items have product codes containing 7825 and have an expiry date up to and including Sept. 27, 2024.
Silk Oat Original, Oat Vanilla, Oat Dark Chocolate, Oat Unsweetened, Oat Unsweetened Vanilla, Almond & Cashew Unsweetened, and Almond & Cashew Unsweetened Vanilla in the 1.75 litre size. The affected items have product codes containing 7825 and have an expiry date up to and including Oct. 4, 2024.
The affected products were all distributed by Danone Canada.
What products are not affected?
Other Silk items such as Silk shelf-stable beverages (946 ml) including the Silk Barista range, Silk coffee creamers, Silk plant-based food (cheese, yogurt, whipping cream), Silk Nextmilk refrigerated, Silk Unsweetened Almond 940 ml, Silk Oat Original 890 ml, or anything not listed in CFIA’s recall notice, is not affected.
How many people have got sick after drinking the recalled products?
According to the Health Canada notice, the recall was triggered by an investigation into a food-borne illness outbreak.
To date, the Public Health Agency of Canada has recorded 20 cases, with 13 cases in Ontario, five in Quebec, one in Alberta and one in Nova Scotia.
Of those, 15 individuals required hospitalization and three individuals have died.
There have been no cases recorded in B.C. so far.
How do I know if the product I have is recalled?
Check the item for a product code containing 7825 and its expiry date to see if it’s listed above. You can also look up the UPC code to see if it matches what’s listed on the Health Canada recall notice here.
Food contaminated with Listeria might not look or smell bad, but it can still cause you to get sick. You may vomit or experience nausea, fever, muscle aches, headaches and stiffness. Pregnant women, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems are more at risk for illness as a result of drinking the contaminated product.
What should I do if I have a contaminated product?
If you think you’ve been sick from drinking any of the impacted products, contact your health care provider and check the products to see if they’re included in the recall.
Source: vancouversun.com