More listeriosis at Toronto meat plant

OTTAWA, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- A Toronto meat processing plant closed for sanitizing after a deadly listeriosis outbreak produced four new contaminated samples, federal officials said.

The Maple Leaf plant was closed in August after being identified as the source of the bacteria that killed 20 Canadians and was stripped down and sanitized. It reopened Sept. 17, although none of its products have been going to market but rather to federal inspectors, the Globe and Mail reported Thursday from Ottawa.

Paul Mayers, associate vice president of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, told the Globe in a telephone interview 2,700 product samples have been provided to the CFIA since the plant reopened for testing purposes only.

"We've just received results related to these four positives," Mayers said. "The plant is operating. The product isn't reaching the marketplace."

Bob Kingston, president of the Agriculture Union that represents CFIA inspectors, told the newspaper it was "mind-boggling" there could be more positive listeriosis results from the plant.

"They're cleaning up their place with the whole world watching and they still don't get it right?" he said.

There was no immediate response from Maple Leaf, the newspaper said.