Canada's recent food poisoning crisis with processed meats now has been traced to mechanical areas deep within two meat slicers at Maple Leaf Foods' Bartor Road plant in Toronto. Maple Leaf closed the operation on August 20 when the site was linked to product contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Officials said "rigorous sanitation of this equipment was completed on a daily basis in accordance with or exceeding the equipment manufacturer's recommendation. However, upon disassembly, areas were found where bacteria may accumulate deep inside the slicing machines and avoid the sanitation process."
Maple Leaf said it is cooperating with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's ongoing investigation at the plant. Officials added that (1) similar slicing equipment at the company's other meat plants will routinely be deep cleaned and tested, and (2) Maple Leaf has increased the overall depth and frequency of testing and sanitation procedures at all of its meat facilities.