Import inspectors for the United States identified Lysteria monocytogenes in bacon made by Olymel at its plant at Cornwall, Ont., prompting a recall of 170 tonnes of bacon.
The Aliments Prince makes bacon for many other companies because it is one of the few specialized bacon-making plants in Canada.
The recall applies to bacon with production dates before Aug. 10 and includes 10-pound shipping containers of brand names Olymel, Assoluti, Bellissimo, Stefano and Napoli.
The recall extends across Canada and the United States.
The recall is the biggest since Maple Leaf Foods Inc. was hit two years ago for product processed at its Barton Road plant in Toronto.
That resulted in the death of at least 20 people and a class-action lawsuit that the company settled for $27 million.
Why, I wonder, was this food-poisoning bacteria only brought to our attention after U.S. officials sampled and tested the bacon? Was there never any previous finding of Listeria monocytogenes in the plant or Olymel products made there?
After the fact, we learned that there had been plenty of earlier warning test results at Maple Leaf Foods.
