A nationwide outbreak of listeriosis has killed one person and sickened at least 16 others, officials confirmed Wednesday as one of Canada's largest meat packers temporarily shut down a Toronto plant and recalled nearly two dozen packaged, ready-to-eat meat products.
Maple Leaf Foods (TSX:MFI) is shutting down the plant for several days as part of a precautionary $2-million recall of prepared-meat products that health officials are investigating as the possible source of potentially deadly listeria bacteria.
The bulk of the confirmed cases were in Ontario - one death and 12 people ill, with an additional 16 probable or suspected cases, said Dr. David Williams, the province's chief medical officer of health.
