Toronto public health officials have confirmed two cases of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to deli meat.
According to Toronto Public Health, the sliced, ready-to-eat deli meat was being sold at Summerhill Market. The meat tested positive for listeria contamination.
Affected meat products have labels indicating they were packaged at 446 Summerhill Avenue. These were on sale at the following Summerhill Market locations through October 3rd.
- Summerhill Avenue 446
- 1054 Mount Pleasant Road
- 484 Eglinton Avenue W.
- 1014 Bathurst Street
- 3609 Dundas St. W.
- 32 Wellington Street West, Aurora, York Region
While the health department continues its investigation, consumers are advised to immediately discard these sliced, ready-to-eat deli meat products or return them to the place of purchase.
As part of the investigation, health department staff completed an extensive risk assessment, collected surface and food samples for testing, and ordered a thorough cleaning of the premises and equipment.
Foodborne pathogens are often found in deli slicing equipment, and meat and cheese are often contaminated.
About listeria infections
Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled, but it can still cause serious, even life-threatening infections. People who develop symptoms of Listeria infection after eating the involved products should seek medical treatment and inform their doctor about the possibility of Listeria infection.
It can also take up to 70 days for symptoms of listeriosis to develop after exposure to Listeria monocytogenes, so people who have eaten the recalled products should be on the lookout for symptoms in the coming weeks.
Symptoms of Listeria infection include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle pain, severe headache, and neck stiffness. Special laboratory tests are required to diagnose listeria infections, which can mimic other illnesses.
Pregnant women, the elderly, young children, and immunocompromised cancer patients are especially at risk of serious illness, life-threatening infections, other complications, and death. Although infected pregnant women may experience only mild flu-like symptoms, the infection can lead to premature birth, infection of the newborn, and even stillbirth.
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