Canadian health officials say a listeriosis outbreak connected to several plant-based milk products has come to an end, with no new cases reported since August.
In an update released this week, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) confirmed that its investigation into the outbreak is now complete. While Listeria bacteria were detected within the production environment of Silk and Great Value refrigerated plant-based beverages, investigators were unable to pinpoint the exact origin or “primary site” of the contamination.
As a result, production at the affected facility will remain suspended until the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is satisfied that required renovations and corrective measures have been completed.
Earlier, the CFIA reported that the source of the illnesses was linked to a specific production line at Joriki, a third-party manufacturing plant in Pickering, Ontario. The facility produces plant-based beverages for Danone Canada, which markets the Silk brand.
The final case count remains unchanged from the last update on August 12. In total, 20 confirmed infections were reported across Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and Alberta. Three deaths were associated with the outbreak.
Concerns over the illnesses led to a nationwide recall on July 8 involving multiple Silk and Great Value plant-based milk products. Consumers were advised to discard affected items with best-before dates up to October 4.
Health officials continue to remind the public to follow recall notices and food safety advisories, noting that while this outbreak appears to be over, vigilance remains critical to prevent future foodborne illness.
