Listeria outbreaks can be ‘difficult’ to trace: University of Guelph expert

One food safety expert is warning of the dangers of listeria after a recall was issued for several meat products, including beef jelly tongue.

Dr. Lawrence Goodridge, the director of the Canadian Research Institute for Food Safety professor in the Department of Food Science at the University of Guelph, said the bacteria that causes listeriosis is found in the environment, like soil, animals and plants, and can spread to food products if proper sanitation is not completed.

He said when it comes to tracing the outbreaks, it can be “very difficult” because it takes up to 70 days after a person consumes a contaminated product to experience any symptoms.

“With the previous outbreak linked to plant-based milk, it took almost a year for the outbreak to be traced,” said Goodridge. “In this case, with the beef jelly tongue recall, it appears they found and identified the source and so they should be able to recall all the product and get it off the retail shelves.”

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency issued the recall earlier this month, which includes products being sold at three businesses in Kitchener, Waterloo and Heidelberg.

Goodridge said one big concern is the high death rate of listeria contamination. It can be a major problem for pregnant women, seniors, children and those with compromised immune systems.

“Most healthy people will not get sick from this bacteria, or if they do it will be a very mild illness,” said Goodridge.

He notes that food companies needs to recommit to following food and safety regulations to cut down on outbreaks.

A list of the affected products and locations can be found here.