Ontario cheese added to Listeria recall list
September 4, 2008
Comments on this story
(17)
Paola Loriggio
STAFF REPORTER
Grocery stores and deli counters across Ontario are pulling a variety of cheeses produced by Ivanhoe Cheese Inc. that may be contaminated with listeria bacteria.
The company is voluntarily recalling an unknown quantity of cheese sold under the Ivanhoe, Great Canadian and Iqbal brands between Aug. 20 and Sept. 3. The affected cheeses -- cheddar, marble, asiago, gouda, swiss, parmesan, mozzarella, havarti, colby, brick, and feta -- come is various package sizes and bear best before dates of February 20 to March 1, 2009.
It's the first time Ivanhoe has issued an alert, and almost all the products have been recovered by the company, said spokesperson Leslie Wood.
"It's never been an issue before," she said, adding that the company has always enforced strict testing procedures.
No illnesses have been reported in connection to the cheeses, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
The agency said the alert is not related to the nationwide outbreak of listeriosis tied to contaminated luncheon meat produced at Maple Leaf Foods' north Toronto plant. Yesterday, health officials confirmed the tainted meat was a contributing factor in 13 deaths throughout Canada, including 11 in Ontario.
Meanwhile, health inspectors in Toronto yesterday closed an independent cheese shop in Kensington Market for violating health regulations. The shop first came to the city's attention when a regular customer contracted listeriosis.
thestar.com
Featured Sponsored Listings