Two deaths in listeriosis outbreak linked to plant-based milk recall

OTTAWA — Two people have died after an outbreak of listeriosis prompted a national recall of certain plant-based milks, the Public Health Agency of Canada announced Wednesday.

Silk brand almond milk, coconut milk, almond-coconut milk and oat milk were recalled earlier this month, as was Great Value brand almond milk.

Most of the recalled products have expiration dates up to and including October 4. Recalled products must be discarded or returned to the location where they were purchased.

The agency did not provide details of the deaths in a public health announcement issued Wednesday, but said there were 12 laboratory-confirmed cases of the disease.

It said 10 cases were in Ontario, while Quebec and Nova Scotia each had one, with nine hospitalizations. The people who got sick are aged between 37 and 89 years and 67% of the cases were in women.

The agency said people became ill between August 2023 and early July 2024.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Listeria-contaminated produce may not look or smell bad, but it can make you sick.

Symptoms of listeriosis can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headaches, and stiff neck.

Pregnant people may have only mild, flu-like symptoms, but listeriosis can still lead to premature birth, infection of the newborn, or stillbirth, the recall notice said.

The president of Danone Canada said the 15 Silk chilled beverage products that were recalled have been pulled from retail shelves.

“We are working with the utmost seriousness and in close partnership with the authorities to investigate in detail and shed light on the circumstances surrounding this event,” Frédéric Guichard said in a statement on Wednesday.

An outbreak of listeriosis in Canada has been fatal before. In 2008, an outbreak linked to sausages at a Maple Leaf Foods plant in Toronto killed 22 Canadians.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 17, 2024.

The Canadian Press