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More tainted meat products found at Canadian food plant
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-10-10 08:52

OTTAWA -- Four new tainted meat products were found at the Toronto food plant recently after its listeria- tainted meat caused 20 deaths in Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced Thursday.

The Maple Leaf facility reopened on September 17 after it was shut for several weeks following the cross-Canada listeria outbreak. The four positive samples were found in 2,700 products that were tested on September 29-30. The strain found in the most recent tests is different from the one that triggered the shutdown.

Maple Leaf Foods President Michael McCain said Thursday the finding was no surprise as Listeria bacteria exist in any food plants and can never be eliminated.

"While this plant has undergone intensive sanitization, we will never eliminate (the Listeria bacteria). It exists in all food plants, all supermarkets and presumably all kitchens," he told a Thursday news conference in Toronto.

CFIA and Maple Leaf officials are investigating the findings, he said.

He stressed that having four positive samples out of 3,850 "is exceptionally low. During the outbreak that occurred in August, the bacterium was found" in large amounts, across multiple product lines, multiple products, in high doses, and was linked to illness. "

Food safety means risk can be reduced to the lowest level possible, but not eliminated, he said, adding finding Listeria bacterium can be like finding a needle in a haystack.

He said his company will accept any amount of risk reduction deemed necessary, provided the same standards apply to his competitors and imported food products.