Shocking Discovery: Recalled Plant-Based Milks Still on Shelves Amid Deadly Listeria Outbreak in Canada

In a startling revelation following a Canada-wide recall this summer due to fears of listeria contamination in specific plant-based milks, consumers are discovering that some of these dangerous products remain available on store shelves.

Arlene Pelley, a shocked consumer from Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador, found herself in a perilous situation after purchasing Silk and Great Value brand almond-cashew milk. She promptly discarded her existing cartons upon learning of the recall on social media, assuming all related products had been swiftly removed from stores. Unfortunately, after buying more cartons from a local Dominion grocery store days later, she discovered they bore the same recall notices.

Pelley isn't alone. Carrissa MacDonald, an organ transplant recipient from Burk's Falls, Ontario, unknowingly purchased recalled Silk almond milk at her local grocery, despite the products being flagged as unsafe. “How was I able to buy it? That boggles me,” exclaims MacDonald, expressing her disbelief and concern.

The recall, which emerged from a listeria outbreak linked to a facility in Pickering, Ontario, has revealed significant flaws in Canada's food-safety framework. Public health authorities traced the outbreak to the facility, which resulted in 20 reported illnesses and three fatalities. A recent investigation by The Globe and Mail disclosed that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) had classified the site as low risk, resulting in no inspections for five years prior to the outbreak.

Even more alarming, both Pelley and MacDonald learned that supermarkets failed to remove the affected products, violating Canada’s food safety guidelines. The CFIA, while responsible for issuing public alerts and overseeing recalls, stated that the bulk of the responsibility lies with Danone Canada, the maker of Silk alternative milks. Danone promptly initiated a recall after being alerted to the outbreak but was reported to have major gaps in their execution, allowing potentially contaminated products to remain on store shelves.

Challenging the measures that were supposedly taken, Loblaw Companies Ltd., which operates numerous grocery stores across the country, conceded that mistakes can happen despite procedures in place. “Human error is possible,” said spokesperson Catherine Thomas, acknowledging that such oversights, though rare, can lead to inadequately executed recalls.

The implications of this listeria outbreak are profound, with health experts warning that the number of actual infections may be significantly underestimated, as listeriosis is often under-reported. The consequences have already proven devastating for families, highlighting urgent questions about the safety of food systems in Canada.

In the wake of these incidents, consumers like Pelley and MacDonald are left anxiously pondering how recalled items made it back to shelves, emphasizing a desperate need for improvements in food safety communication and accountability. The severity of the crisis is underscored by the stories of victims affected, including individuals who suffered severe health consequences from the contamination.

As the investigation continues and consumer trust hangs in the balance, one thing is clear: the handling of this serious food safety issue must be addressed to prevent any further tragedies.