Plant-based milk Listeria outbreak appears to be over: PHAC

The Public Health Agency of Canada says a Listeria outbreak linked to several plant-based milks appears to be over, with no new cases reported since August.

The federal agency says the investigation is now complete and that Listeria has been found in the production environment of Silk and Great Value plant-based chilled beverages.

However, PHAC says it was unable to identify the “primary location” of the contamination in that area and that production will be halted until the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is satisfied with the facility’s renovation.

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Ontario manufacturing facility linked to Silk and Great Value plant-based milk recall

The CFIA previously stated that the source of the illness was traced to a specific production line at Joriki, a third-party facility in Pickering, Ontario, used by plant-based milk manufacturer Danone Canada.

The last number of cases reported on August 12 remains unchanged, with 20 confirmed infections in Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Alberta, and three deaths.

The illnesses led to a national recall of several plant-based milk products from Zijde and Grote Waarde on July 8, with an expiration date of October 4.